Seminars & Events
Monday, February 11, 2013: Dr. Daphne Soares (University of Maryland College Park) will speak on "The Sensory World of Cavefishes" at 4:45 pm in Goodpaster Hall 195.
Monday, March 4, 2013: Dr. Joe Cheer (University of Maryland Baltimore) will speak on "Endogenous Cannabinoids and the Pursuit of Reward" at 4:45 pm in Goodpaster Hall 195.
Friday, April 12, 2013: Dr. Jill McGaughy (University of New Hampshire) will speak on "The Role of Cortical Norepinephrine in the Ontogeny of Executive Function" at 3:00 pm in Schaefer Hall 106.
Alumni Highlight
Dr. Erin Johnson '02 recently received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, and was inducted as an alumni member of Nu Rho Psi.
SMP Spotlight
Ron Saul, "Chronic activation of the substantia nigra nociceptin/orphanin receptor induces motor deficits similar to Parkinson's disease," 2008. Saul, the 2008 winner of the Neuroscience Award, infused a drug into the substantia nigra of rats and measured the resulting motor behaviors, mood disturbances, and cognitive abilities.
Chiappelli, J. (2004, May). Behavioral Functions of 5-HT1A Receptors in Rat Orbitofrontal Cortex.
Mentor: Dr. Aileen Bailey
Abstract
Cannula were implanted in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), a prefrontal region of the brain, of 17 rats. The behavior of these animals was observed after intracerebral infusion or intraperitoneal injection of 8-OH-DPAT, a serotonin- 1A agonist. Behavior paradigms used were the open field, social interaction, forced swim and prepulse inhibition tests. Intracerebral infusion of 8-OH-DPAT increased exploratory behavior, had a weak anxiety-reducing effect, and decreased social interaction of the rats, but did not affect depression like behavior or sensorimotor gating. Systemic injection of 8-OH-DPAT had an antidepressant-like effect. Results indicate a role of 5-HT1A receptors in the OFC in regulating social and emotional behaviors, and may have implications for psychopathology.
Read the paper (pdf format, 1.71 MB)
