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.
Oben, Marie (2009). Continuing Exercise After Brief Cessation: The Effects on BDNF Regulation, Depression, and Anxiety. Mentor: Dr. Aileen Bailey.
Abstract
There is evidence to support the up-regulation of BDNF and improvement of depressive and anxiety symptoms as a result of exercise in both human and animal models. However, some animals models do not support these results. There is also a lack of research on the effects of cessation and reoccurrence of exercise. The current study investigated the effects of exercise, exercise cessation, and reoccurrence of exercise on BDNF levels in the hippocampus and behavioral measures of depression and anxiety (forced swim test, sucrose preference test, elevated plus maze) in four groups of adult rats. Results do not support the hypotheses that voluntary access to running wheels would cause an up-regulation of BDNF and a decrease in depressive and anxiety symptoms (as compared to controls), nor were there noticeable trends regarding BDNF and behavior in the groups that experienced cessation or reoccurrence of exercise. While some past research conflicts with these results, there is also some research to support them. Explanations, limitations of the current study, and the need for further research are discussed.
