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.
MacFarland, M. (2006). Sex Differences in the Effects of Valium on Neuronal Activation and Elevated Plus-Maze Behavior in the Rat.
Mentor: Dr. Anne Marie Brady
Abstract
Females are diagnosed with anxiety disorders more frequently than males; however, the majority of animal and preclinical drug research is done with only male subjects. This study aimed to replicate and extend previous research, which has found evidence for sex differences, by examining sex differences and the effects of chronic diazepam (DZ) treatment on behavior in the elevated plus-maze and neuronal activation as assessed by Fos expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the medial nucleus of the amygdala (MeA). Behavioral results supported the anxiolytic properties of DZ; however, did not illustrate sex differences. Maze-evoked Fos results found evidence for laterality, as well a DZ influenced decrease in activation, in both regions. Sex was found to interact with laterality in the MeA. Increased Fos expression was seen in the MeA in females when compared to males. It is possible that the activation is due to the anxiety-inducing event more than the animal’s response to that event since no significant sex differences were seen in the behavior in the elevated plus-maze. The current study supports and expands previous research regarding drug effects in the elevated plus-maze and maze-evoked Fos expression, however, does not support findings of sex differences in elevated plus-maze behavior.
Read the paper (pdf format, 286KB)
