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UAB researchers
find gambling addiction's wild card
-Courtesy of The Birmingham News
Rudy E. Vuchinich, a UAB psychologist and
book co-author, said neurological studies show that gambling, like
other addictions, relies upon a reward system that releases a spurt
of the brain chemical dopamine.
"The way the system works is if we get rewarded in a surprising way,
dopamine is released and that kind of alerts the system how that is
going to happen again," he said.
Brain imaging studies show that the neurological footprint of
gambling is similar to that left by cocaine.
UAB on YouTube:
Rehab therapy increases gray matter in brain
-Courtesy of The eReporter
This week, BlazerCast features a
rehabilitation therapy developed by a UAB neuroscientist which
produces changes in the structure of the brain, the first evidence
of actual brain remodeling resulting from a rehabilitation therapy.
In findings presented online in Stroke, a Journal of the American
Heart Association, sophisticated analysis of MRI images of stroke
patients showed that Constraint Induced therapy produced a
significant increase in the amount of gray matter present in the
brains of patients receiving the therapy.
Ball wins 2008
Ireland Prize for Scholarly Distinction
-Courtesy of The UAB Reporter
Psychologist Karlene Ball has won the 2008 Carolyn P. and Charles W.
Ireland Prize for Scholarly Distinction. A dinner and lecture will
be held 6:45 p.m. Thursday, May 1 in the Alys Stephens Center upper
lobby. Cocktails will be served at 6 p.m. in the Stephens Center
downstairs lobby. Tickets are $20 each. For details, or to R.S.V.P.,
contact the University Events Office at
uabevents@uab.edu.
The Brain that
Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of
Brain Science
In an excellent recently published book,
The Brain that Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from
the Frontiers of Brain Science by Norman Doidge, M.D., one
chapter is devoted to the career of Ed Taub. This chapter describes
the impact that Taub's work has had on our basic understanding of
brain plasticity and on the treatment of stroke, cerebral palsy,
traumatic brain injury, aphasia, etc. The author makes it clear that
UAB deserves a lot of credit for hiring Taub and allowing him to
continue his work. This is a great story and the author tells it
well.
Gault’s ‘expert
handling’ aids ‘team effort’ in psychology
-Courtesy of The UAB Reporter
David C. Schwebel, Ph.D., associate
professor and vice chair in the department, says when he informed
his colleagues that he wanted to nominate Gault for the award, the
response was overwhelming. “I got a deluge of responses almost
immediately,” Schwebel says. “Clearly, Aeron has touched many people
in our department.”
Ravenous Rodents
Give Dieting Clues
-Courtesy of Forbes.com
Observations of overstressed rats may help explain why
dieters so often fail and binge-eat instead.
Diane Tucker to
Head UAB's New Honors Program
-Courtesy of The UAB
Reporter
BIRMINGHAM, AL — Diane
C. Tucker, professor of psychology at UAB, has been named Director
of the university’s new Science and Technology Honors Program. The
appointment is effective August 1, announced UAB Provost Eli
Capilouto.
Constraint-Induced
Movement Therapy for Stroke Recognized by Society of Neuroscience
-Courtesy of The UAB
Reporter
Constraint-Induced (CI) Movement Therapy, a stroke rehabilitation
technique developed by Edward Taub, Ph.D., professor of psychology at
UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham), has been included in a
listing of the 10 most important translational neuroscience
accomplishments by the Society for Neuroscience. The Society’s list
details those areas where basic neuroscience research on animal models
has been applied-or translated-to successful therapies for human brain
disorders, including stroke. Posted on September 21, 2004 at 11:15
a.m.
Choice decision:
Is vice worth the price? -Courtesy of The UAB
Reporter
In his new book Choice, Behavioural
Economics and Addiction, Professor Rudy Vuchinich (Psychology)
examines behavioral economics and addiction.
Michael E. Sloane Named New UAB Honors
Program Director - Courtesy of The UAB Media Relations
Michael E. Sloane, Ph.D., has been named
director of UAB's nationally recognized Honors Program effective July
1. Sloane is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology.
He will succeed the retiring Ada Long, Ph.D., founding director of the
program.
UAB Study on Trucking Safety to Save Lives, Industry Millions- Courtesy of The UAB Media Relations
The U.S. Department of
Transportation has awarded the University of Alabama at Birmingham
(UAB) a one-year, $275,000 grant to study ways to help prevent
commercial trucking collisions and curb the severity of injuries
when they occur.
UAB Psychologist Joins Rosalyn Carter Institute Expert Panel on
Caregivers- Courtesy of The UAB Media Relations
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Johnson &
Johnson/Rosalyn Carter Institute Caregivers Program has appointed
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) psychology Professor
Timothy Elliott, Ph.D., of Hoover, to an advisory panel of national
experts on the challenges facing caregivers. The panel will convene
Nov. 13-14 at The Carter Center in Atlanta.
UAB Study Examines Alzheimer's
Patients' Financial Capacity- Courtesy of The UAB Media Relations
BIRMINGHAM, AL — A study in the
November issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
finds that family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease
often misjudge their loved ones’ ability to manage their own
finances. The study also found that the patients tended to
overestimate their own financial abilities.
Clumsy children not more injury prone
than other kids
A new study published in the April issue of the Journal of Safety
Research suggests that, contrary to popular belief, children who
are clumsy are not more prone to injuries than their graceful peers
Concussions and Contact Sports: New Neuro Program
Will Aid Atheletes -
Courtesy of UAB
Publications
Blanton uses a computerized testing
system to evaluate the severity of concussions and help determine when
an athlete can safely return to action. The system, called ImPACT
(Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), was
developed at the University of Pittsburgh and is currently used by the
National Football League and National Hockey League.
Kids and Sports Health- Courtesy of The UAB
Reporter
An estimated 300,000 cases of
sports-related concussions occur annually in the United States,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the
signs of a concussion aren’t always obvious.
Giving Concussions
Another Look - Courtesy of The Birmingham Post
Herald
Dr. Paul Blanton
is working to establish a better way to evaluate athletes after they
experience a concussion.
Psychologist Receives $8.5 Million in Grants for
Substance Abuse Studies
-Courtesy of UAB Media
Relations
University of Alabama at Birmingham
(UAB) Psychology Professor Jesse B. Milby, Ph.D., ABPP, has received
two grants totaling $8.5 millions from the National Institute of
Drug Abuse for two studies involving experimental, intensive
day-treatment and training for homeless abusers of drugs and
alcohol.
Doctoral Program in Psychology Wins Reaccreditation
from APA-Courtesy of UAB Media Relations
An accreditation site visit
from the American Psychological Association gave the clinical
psychology program high marks for research and clinical training
consistent with its scientist-practitioner training
model.
Taub Clinic Offers Breakthrough in Stroke
Rehab -Courtesy of UAB Media
Relations
A revolutionary therapy for stroke patients is
now available clinically at UAB (University of Alabama at
Birmingham) as the Taub Training Clinic has officially opened it's
doors.
Study Examines Risk Factors for Accidental Injuries in
Children
-Courtesy
of UAB Media Relations
A study underway at the
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Psychology
aims to determine how three of the known risk factors for childhood
accidental injuries interact to create a greater risk for
injury.
Wallander Wins Lee Salk Award -
Courtesy of UAB Media Relations
"It is my
pleasure to announce that Professor Jan Wallander, Director of our
Developmental Psychology Doctoral Program, has been selected to
receive the 2002 Lee Salk Distinguished Service Award from the
Society of Pediatric Psychology, APA Division 54. This award will be
presented to Jan at the APA Convention next August. "
-Dr. Carl McFarland - Chairman,
Department of Psychology
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