Banks, Gregory B.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Cross
Second Reader: Clark
Title: The effects of Methylphenidate on the working memory of the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR), a model of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR) were studied as models of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Using a non – spatial, delayed matching to sample paradigm, in an apparatus called the Mumby Box; the rats working memory was tested. Each of five SHR received I.P. injections of 0.3 mg/kg Methylphenidate doses, along with saline injections, and baseline readings without injection. The rats were initially trained without any delay on the matching to sample task and over time a delay was imposed, until which time the retention of the task was tested while given the injections. Three delays were studied, including 20, 30, and 50 seconds. It was concluded after completing a one – way repeated measures ANOVA that there were no significant differences across all levels of the independent variables. This was unexpected being that it had been hypothesized that the rats administered Methylphenidate would perform significantly better and that the more the delay increased the more performance would decrease. Before any conclusive statements can be made, a much more extensive study must be completed.
Bell, Nicole L.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Cross
Second Reader: Clark
Title: The Effects of Exercise and Sibutramine on the Weight of the Zucker Fatty Rats.
The objective of the study was to compare the effects of exercising versus the effects of weight loss drugs, such as sibutramine, on the unique physiological system that the Zucker fatty rats display. It was hypothesized that the weight-loss drug, sibutramine, would have short-term efficacy for weight loss in the Zucker fatty rats but that exercising would be a better weight loss method. Ten Zucker rats weights were measured for a total of six weeks. The first three weeks the rats were made to swim then the last three weeks they were administered sibutramine (15mg/100ml, orally). The results showed that overall weight of the rats increased during both exercising and drug administration. In conclusion, the results obtained could have been due to many things such as the fact that the rats were still growing when the experiment started and increased in weight due to the normal growth pattern they display or that the faulty neural circuits in the genetic obese model could be preventing any decrease in weight. This study confirms that a genetic obesity model such as the Zucker fatty rats have difficulty losing weight while using the diet methods of exercise and drug therapy. This study could be an explanation of why genetic obese humans have such difficulties losing weight because the physiological system found in both humans and the Zucker rats are very comparable. Future experiments could look at using a combination of behavior modification, physical activity, and a reduced-calorie intake as different methods for preventing obesity in genetic obese species to distinguish if a combination of a couple methods is better than just one method. Preventing obesity in today’s society is becoming more and more difficult because of how daily living has change but is still a key in extending one’s life expectancy.
Berry, Heather L
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Clark
Second Reader: Hollerman
Title: Altered rates of liquid consumption with the excitatory amino acid agonist N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA): Effects of the competitive antagonist CGS-19755 and non-competitive antagonist MK-801.
Past research on the dipsogenic effects of NMDA have shown that NMDA increases water consumption in pigones. The current study used twelve female rats, injected with varying doses of NMDA (1.0-30.0 mg/kg) when water deprived (23 hr) and non-water deprived. The lowest and highest doses did not produce any substantial increases in water consumption relative to baseline and saline values in either deprivation condition. The intermediate dose (10.0 mg/kg) produced increased water consumption in non water-deprived rats, while the 17.0 mg/kg dose increased water consumption in both water deprived and non-water deprived rats. Time course evaluations were obtained for 0, 15, 30, and 60 minutes post NMDA injections. Additional dose-response curves were determined with the NMDA antagonists, CGS-19755 and Dizocilpine (MK-801). The most effective doses of MK-801 and CGS-19755 were used in conjunction with the 17.0 mg/kg dose of NMDA. Results showed that both antagonists decreased water consumption to below baseline and vehicle levels and significantly lower then when NMDA was injected alone. This indicated that the antagonists successfully antagonized the dipsogenic effect of the NMD
Blasiole, Julie A.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Cross, Second Reader: Hollerman, Third Reader: Alec Chein
Title: The Effects of Music Exposure and Training on Aural Correlations of Triads and Isolated Pitches.
Music is part of our environment. The ability to recognize and analyze music is an acquired skill. The present study sought to examine the relationship between music exposure and training on a task of pitch recognition. The purpose of this experiment was to analyze the effects of exposure to music and instruments played on the ability of participants to correctly determine if an isolated pitch was part of a triad. Twenty-four participants were tested twice at 24 hour intervals. Participants were also asked to fill out a questionnaire pertaining to their music exposure and training history. Each testing trial lasted approximately 40 minutes and consisted of 108 pitch-triad comparisons. It was found that the greater the frequency of music exposure, the greater the percentage correct. In addition, the percent correct increased with frequency of exposure for the chord member as the root and 3rd of the chord for trial 1. For trial 2, an increase in percent correct was seen as the frequency of exposure increased with the chord member as the 3rd of the chord. Although the number of instruments played and amount of ear training did not increase the percent correct, there was an increasing trend in the means of correct answers for both trials 1 and 2. The results suggest that the more an individual is exposed to music, the better their pitch recognition ability. However, according to the results, additional musical training is not related strongly to pitch identification ability. The relationship between music processing ability and other cognitive abilities seems to be the strongest with analytical skills, or in other words, problem solving, more so than IQ (Jourdain, 1997). Although musical training is obviously an important part of our lives, an emphasis on musical exposure should be just as vital considering the major benefits we are provided with from musical processing abilities.
Brost, Devon R.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Hollerman
Second Reader: Cross
Title: Behavioral and anatomical effects of prenatal valproic acid exposure and the effects of intraventricular administration of oxytocin on social recognition: An animal model of autism in sprague-dawley rats.
The current study examined the effects of prenatal valproic acid (VPA) exposure on developing Sprague-Dawley rats. Past research has used valproic acid to create a model of autism. Prenatal exposure to VPA on gestation day 12.5 replicates the cerebellar abnormalities observed in many cases of autism. Behavioral assessments included measures of passive avoidance, social recognition, object preference and Morris water maze performance. Prenatal valproate-treated subjects also received intraventricular administrations of oxytocin and their social recognition was re-examined. The cerebellum was examined using buffered thionin staining solution. Control subjects had intact social recognition as demonstrated by a significant decrease in olfactory investigation of a familiar stimulus animal. Treated subjects failed to demonstrate intact social recognition. Intraventricular oxytocin had no significant effect on social recognition in VPA-treated subjects, and there was significantly more investigation prior to drug administration than after administration. In the object preference task control subjects spent significantly more time investigating the novel stimulus, while VPA-treated subjects spent significantly more time investigating the familiar stimulus. There were no significant effects of VPA on passive avoidance learning. Control subjects learned the water maze significantly faster than VPA subjects; however, VPA subjects had better performance in the later trials. Histological studies revealed differences in cerebellar white and gray matter distribution between untreated and VPA-treated brain slices
Castellani, Joseph G.
Major/Minor: Neuroscience/Writing
May 2003
First Reader: Coates
Second Reader: Clark
Title: The Detection of Carbon Dioxide in The Trained Rodent: Determination of the Threshold Level of Detection and Neural Input Via Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibition.
Two rodents were trained to discriminate carbon dioxide from air containing no physiological amounts of carbon dioxide. Both subjects were able to discriminate carbon dioxide at levels as low as 0.5%, much lower than their 4.88% expired average rate. One subject was treated topically with acetazolamide in the nasal cavity in order to inhibit carbonic anhydrase. The subject was able to detect 2.5% CO2 gas after the manipulation. Reasons for this are discussed, but it seems likely that carbonic anhydrase was not fully inhibited by the treatment.
Chenoweth, Robert E.
Major/Minor: Neuroscience/Economics
May 2003
First Reader: French
Second Reader: Wurst
Title: An Investigation to Find a Conotoxin Peptide that Targets a Ca++ Activate K+ Channel.
Cone snails compromise what is arguably the largest single genus of marine animals living today. Cone snails have proved to be successful by developing pungent venom that enables them to capture prey and defend against predators. Of the 500 species of cone snails classified, each contains unique venom. Numerous peptides compose the venom enabling the snail to administer an excitotoxic shock and/or neuromuscular block on its prey. A small number of peptides have been classified to specifically block certain channels associated with muscle control. One channel of interest to this study is the Ca++ activated K+ channel, associated with rhythmic behaviors in neurons. It is the hope that a peptide(s) in the snail venom can be found that targets the Ca++ activated K+ channel. However, after completion of the study, it was apparent that unforeseen difficulties prohibited a peptide to be found. However, significant progress was made enabling further investigation into this study to look promising.
Christie, Sharon R.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Hollerman
Second Reader: Cross
Title: The Effect of Hippocampal Kindling on Learning and the Interaction Between Hippocampal Kindling and the Antiepileptic Drugs: Phenobarbital and Dilantin on Memory
The effects of continuous hippocampal stimulation on learning and memory were examined, as well as the effects of anti-epileptic drugs on memory. A T-maze alternation task was used to measure both learning and memory abilities. Kindling was found to not have a significant effect on learning abilities. While kindling alone did not have a significant effect on memory drug treatment did. Although, when combined a significant impairment was seen. Histological analysis revealed that the further from the target more kindling was needed to induce status epilepticus. These results suggest that epileptics that may have learning impairment, and will likely encounter problems with memory especially when taking anti-epileptic drugs.
Condon, Ian M.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Cross
Second Reader: Hollerman
Title: The Effect of the Initial Ictus and Subsequent Intervention on Long Term Outcomes in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.
Aneurysmal SAH has extremely high rates of mortality and morbidity. Until recently, the only treatment was a highly invasive procedure known as a craniotomy. But endovascular coiling has provided surgeons with a less invasive alternative for treating aneurysms. The current study compared the outcomes of 14 patients receiving surgical clips to 14 patients receiving detachable coils from an original sample of n = 93. Individuals in the two groups were matched according to their Glasgow Coma Scale and Fisher Grade scores upon their admission to the hospital. Four outcome scales, the Glasgow Outcome Scale, the Modified Rankin Scale, the Barthel Index (Wade and Collin version), and the Short Form-36 Physical Function Scale were recorded by phone interviews at 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. On the Glasgow Outcome Scale, clip patients performed significantly better than coil patients at 6 and 12 months. Similar, but not significant results were seen in the Modified Rankin Scale. On the Barthel Index and the Short Form-36, there was a significant difference within groups from 3 to 6 months. Five deaths that were coded for in the first two tests, but not in the latter two caused the discrepancy in the findings. The results show that the surviving patients in the two groups performed similarly in outcome tests, but the fact that 35% of the coil patients died compared to none in the clip group is a troubling and unexpected result. Better follow-up procedures need to be conducted to fully understand the cause and implications of this high proportion of mortality among the sampled coil patients.
Dahlkemper, Nicole L.
Major/Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Cross
Second Reader: Hollerman
Title: The effect of intranigral, intrastriatal, and double solid fetal tissue grafting on the reconstruction of the nigrostriatal pathway.
One aspect that plays an essential role in the efficacy of fetal tissue transplantations is optimal grafting placement. In this experiment, a multiple graft strategy was implemented in the treatment of Parkinson”s disease. It was hypothesized that the double grafted animals would show a more complete restoration of the nigrostriatal circuitry shown by improvement in behavioral recovery. Twenty-four Sprague Dawley rats with unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions were evenly divided into four groups: 1) control (no graft), 2) intranigral graft, 3) intrastriatal graft, and 4) double grafts (one intranigral and one intrastriatal). Amphetamine-induced rotometry and a more complex limb movement test (the elevated stick maze), were performed after the 6-OHDA lesioning and again 6 weeks following the transplantation. Intrastriatal grafted animals showed a decrease in rotometry bias, however the results were not significant. Intranigral grafted animals exhibited a significant decrease in limb misses on the elevated stick maze after the transplantation. These results suggest that the intranigral graft plays a fundamental part in regulating complex motor behavior. This was exemplified by both the sole intranigral grafted animals and the double grafted animals, most likely due to the effects from the intranigral graft. It could not be concluded from these varied results that the double grafted animals exhibited a more complete behavioral recovery, however results may have differed if a greater number of animals were used in each group. Dopaminergic innervation of both the striatum and the substantia nigra may be a superior strategy in neural transplantation for Parkinson’s disease. Multitarget transplantation deserves further attention and research to optimize further recovery and treatment in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
DeFrancesco, Alicia A.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Hollerman
Second Reader: Cross
Title: A Schizophrenia Model: The effects of Ketamine and Nicotine on the startle response of the rat
People with schizophrenia exhibit a deficit in prepulse inhibition (PPI). This effect can be mimicked in the rat by administering an NMDA antagonist such as ketamine. With the high rate of schizophrenics who smoke, nicotine has been considered as a possible therapeutic measure in schizophrenia. In the present study, ketamine and nicotine were administered, on a specific schedule, in order to study their effects on PPI. The subjects used were 12 male Sprague-Dawley rats. For PPI testing, a 120db, 50ms sound burst was preceded 200ms earlier by an 80db, 50ms sound burst. The rats,; startle responses to the first 50ms pulse alone, and with the preceding 50ms burst (the prepulse) were recorded. It was found that none of the studied effects were significant, although there were a few trends that indicated the expected relationship between ketamine and nicotine on PPI. It was concluded that the doses used were perhaps too small to observe the desired effects. Additionally, an animal model of schizophrenia may require the actions of more than one neurotransmitter system.
Fabich, Megan L.
Major/Minor: Neuroscience/English
May 2003
First Reader: Cross
Second Reader: Anderson
Title: Activational Differences of the Auditory and Visual Cortices in Response to Textual, Auditory and Signed Stimuli Between Deaf, Hearing and ASL Competent Individuals.
American Sign Language has been shown to activate the auditory cortex of profoundly deaf individuals. Neural plasticity has also been shown to occur in deaf individuals during development and later in life. The objective of the present study was to examine the possible plasticity of the auditory cortex, especially as it relates to the acquisition of sign language. Four individuals each from hearing, signing (but hearing) and deaf populations participated in a study that examined the differences in activation of the auditory and visual cortices in response to textual, auditory and video tasks. No significant differences were found in the cortical activation in response to task between groups. A general trend of increased activation was seen in the temporal lobe for hearing individuals in response to textual stimuli, while the deaf individuals showed little or no variation from baseline. The video task caused an increase in alpha activity of the temporal lobe for deaf and signing individuals, while causing little stimulation in the hearing individuals. Based on the trends observed, plasticity effects appear to be possible between the auditory and visual systems, suggesting auditory cortex activation in response to the visual stimulus of sign language.
Frey, Lisa D.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology Minor: Spanish
May 2003
First Reader: Hollerman
Second Reader: Jennifer O’Donnell
Title: The effects of methylphenidate on a simple task and prepluse inhibtion in normal sprague-dawley rats.
Methylphenidate, the chemical name for Ritalin, has been increasingly used among adolescents. The study will measure the effects that this drug has on rats that do not have the disorder Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to gain more knowledge of its effects on humans who do not have the disorder. A rat study can be generalized to humans based on the fact that the rat is of similar nature as a human, on a smaller scale and its body systems are very similar to humans. It is unethical to do this study on humans, which would be ideal. The current study found that methylphenidate increased learning in a spatial maze in rats that do not have ADHD, after being treated with methylphenidate for 7 days prior to testing. This study also found that methylphenidate increases prepulse inhibition, much like an amphetamine would.
Gebhardt, Rebecca L.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology Minor: Communication Arts
May 2003
First Reader: Hollerman
Second Reader: Cross
Title: Prenatal Stress and the Effects on ADHD and Schizophrenia.
In this study the effects of prenatal stress were assessed. Pregnant dams were placed under psychological stress, in the form of restraint and additional light during their last week of pregnancy. The offspring were tested on the pre pulse inhibition test and in the locomotor chamber, in order to test for symptoms of Schizophrenia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Testing occurred at 30 days, 70 days and 73 days with the administration of methylphenidate at 2 mg/kg doses. Low survival rates in the experimental group made it particularly difficult to see effects. However, this in itself suggests detrimental effects of prenatal stress. Further research concerning strain differences and maternal behaviors affected by stress are suggested in order to create a more powerful study.
Jenco, Elizabeth M.
Major/Minor: Neuroscience/Economics
May 2003
First Reader: Coates
Second Reader: Kleinschmidt
Title: The Effects of Prenatal Nicotine Exposure on the Ventilatory Response of Neonatal Sprague-Dawley Rats to Inspired CO2.
Maternal cigarette smoking has been shown to be a risk factor in many cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It is thought that it has harmful effects on the central nervous system (CNS) of a developing fetus due to the exposure of toxins, such as nicotine. Most researchers hypothesize that nicotine exposure has profound effects on the development of peripheral and central chemoreceptors, which play a role in a neonate”s response to changes in O2 or CO2. This study was carried out to determine the effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on the ventilatory response of neonatal rats to increased levels of CO2. From day 2 of gestation through 15 days after birth, rats received food pellets containing no nicotine (control group) or 12.00 mg kg-1 day-1 nicotine bitartrate (nicotine group). On postnatal days 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, and 15, pups were exposed to humidified gas mixtures of 0%, 4%, and 8% CO2 (21% O2 and balanced N2) for 2 min. each. Frequency, tidal volume, and minute ventilation were measured during three 10-sec epochs during the final minute of testing for each gas level. CO2 sensitivity was measured by calculating the change in minute ventilation with each change in CO2. The CO2 sensitivity was compared between the control and nicotine groups on each day of testing. It was hypothesized that the control rat pups would display an age-related increase in CO2 sensitivity beginning on day 3. This hypothesis was not supported due to an increased level of CO2 sensitivity on days 2 and 3. It was also hypothesized that the nicotine-exposed rat pups would display a blunted ventilatory response with a decreased level of CO2 sensitivity on all days. This hypothesis was partially supported when the nicotine rats were analyzed by litter. It was also found that overall, the nicotine rats weighed significantly less than control rats, showing that nicotine had an adverse affect on body weight.
Kaiser, Corinne L.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Hollerman
Second Reader: Cross
Title: The effects of chronic methylphenidate administration on spatial learning and behavior in normal Sprague-Dawley rats.
The effect of chronic methylphenidate administration on spatial learning was studied using normal Sprague-Dawley rats in a free-choice radial arm maze task. Locomotor activity was also studied using the locomotor activity chamber. A 2.0 mg/kg dose of methylphenidate was administered i.p. to a group of 7 rats and the same saline dose was administered i.p. to a group of 7 rats. Six different dependent variables were measured to assess learning. These included total errors made, times an arm was re-entered without the food being consumed, times an arm was re-entered with the food being consumed, times an arm was entered for the first time without consuming the food, number of arms that were never entered, and total correct responses made. There was a significant main effect across days for all dependent variables, except for arms never entered. This indicates that all rats learned as expected. There was also a significant main effect across days for locomotor activity. This indicates that as expected, there was a habituation effect. Nevertheless, there was only a significant main effect seen between groups for mean total errors and re-entry into an arm with reinforcement consumption mean total errors and re-entry into an arm with reinforcement consumption. This indicates that the methylphenidate rats did not learn as quickly or as well as the saline group. However, with so few significant results between groups more research must be conducted before it can be concluded that methylphenidate has a detrimental effect on spatial learning.
Ketcham, Katie M.
Major: Neuroscience Minor: Spanish
May 2003
First Reader: Cross
Second Reader: Coates
Title: Duration of oxygen consumption in Zucker obese, Zucker non-obese, and Sprague-Dawley rats.
Humans who exhibit upper or lower body obesity have lower levels of oxygen saturation in the blood than non-obese humans (Han, et al., 2001). This can be detrimental to the health of the human, as related to quality of sleep, muscle fatigue, general fatigue, and even brain damage. Narrow airways and lower lung capacity caused by obesity prevent sufficient oxygen from entering the body and thus the blood (Kyzer & Charuzi, 1998). Obese rats may also experience a lack of oxygen compared to non-obese rats. Duration of oxygen consumption was tested between Zucker obese, Zucker non-obese, and Sprague-Dawley rats with a respirometer and correlated with body mass through statistical analysis. It was hypothesized that obese rats would require a longer length of time to consume an equal volume of oxygen compared to both lean and control groups. It was found, however, that Sprague-Dawley rats require a statistically longer length of time to consume the same amount of oxygen as compared to both obese and lean Zucker rats. A significant difference did not exist between obese and lean Zucker rats, although a trend was observed where lean rats required a longer length of time to consume the same volume of oxygen compared to obese rats. Differences in respiration may be accounted for by metabolic rate characteristic of each strain.
Kompel, Andrew J.
Major/Minor: Neuroscience/Economics
May 2003
First Reader: Coates
Second Reader: Wissinger
Title: Identification of CO2 chemoreceptors in mice and the effects of carbonic anhydrase and adenylyl cyclase inhibition on odorant and CO2 signal transduction
Histological and electrophysiological studies have shown that cells containing carbonic anhydrase(CA) serve as markers for CO2-chemosensitive cells. CA-positive cells have been identified in the olfactory and respiratory epithelia of mice and the present study confirms that mice exhibit CO2-sensitive cells in both types of epithelia through electrophysiological methods. The exact function of the CO2-sensitive cells is still unknown, but it has been hypothesized that they are involved in the control of breathing. Each mouse was prepared for recording from the olfactory and respiratory epithelia using a procedure described in Scott et al. (1997). The CO2-sensitive cells were tested using various concentrations (0-48%) of CO2. The receptor responses in the olfactory epithelium peaked around 20% CO2 and were consistently greater than the respiratory responses. The responses from the respiratory CO2-sensitive cells showed slight increases in EOG amplitude corresponding to increasing CO2 concentrations. However, there were some differences in trends between the three mice strain that were examined. This study also showed that the inhibition of the enzyme, CA, attenuated the EOG response amplitude of CO2-sensitive olfactory receptors when CO2 was used as the stimulus. Conversely, the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase caused a dramatic reduction in the EOG response amplitude when an odorant was used as the stimulus. These results suggest that there are two different pathways for olfactory signaling and presence of CO2-sensitive cells in the nasal cavity may be responsible for the initial sampling of environmental CO2 levels.
Mattarochia, Marc T.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology Minor: Spanish
May 2003
First Reader: Cross
Second Reader: Heuchert
Title: A review of the assessment of the elderly based on cognitive ability.
The present study used six control patients and six experimental patients selected randomly from a longitudinal study of geriatric patients with depression or dementia. Their diagnoses were made according to their performance on various tests of cognitive ability (Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, Executive Interview, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale). The significance of the scores on these tests between the control patients and those with dementia and/or depression and the difference between baseline scoring and one and two-year follow-ups was reviewed. Results suggest there may be a need for improvement of such means of assessment and diagnosis, and they also suggest the decline of cognitive ability due to age as well as disorder.
McCatty, Lauren M.
Major/Minor: Neuroscience/Writing
May 2003
First Reader: Clark
Second Reader: Hollerman
Title: Alterations of the Dopamine system induced by chronic moderate ethanol exposure: A comparison of the effects of methamphetamine on a fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement in rats before and after ethanol exposure.
Today, sixty-four percent of Americans consume alcohol, a statistic that indicates it is the most commonly used drug in the United States (Shively, et al., 2002). Ethanol has had a large altering effect on many systems of the brain, particularly on the NMDA receptor. In order to explore the alterations that are brought upon by chronic ethanol exposure, rats were injected with four doses of methamphetamine (0.32, 1.0, 1.7, 3.2 mg/kg)and tested before and after chronic ethanol exposure on an FR8 reinforcement schedule. The statistical results showed differences between the baseline, saline and the four doses of methamphetamine. The Tukey’s HSD test showed that the difference was between the baseline and the four drug doses, between saline and the three higher concentrations of the drug, and between the 0.32 mg/kg dose and the higher three doses of methamphetamine. There was no significant difference between the before and after trials. However, according to all dose-response curves, there was a shift to the left in the after-ethanol trials that indicated an increase in the effectiveness of methamphetamine. Statistically, the hypothesis that predicted an increase in the effectiveness of methamphetamine after ethanol was administered was rejected. However, this hypothesis was supported by the leftward shifts in the dose-response curves that indicated that the methamphetamine was more effective. This supported the belief that chronic ethanol exposure did increase the NMDA glutamate action and led to the excitation of the dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmitters.
McClure, Erin
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Clark
Second Reader: O’Donnell
Title: The effects of oxycodone and selective receptor antagonists on negatively reinforced behavior in six sprague-dawley rats.
Negatively reinforced behavior and more specifically, shock-avoidance behavior are procedures commonly used in non-human research in order to aversively control responding. This aversive control is present and responsible for much of our own behavior. The drug oxycodone (0.3 3.0mg/kg), which is a synthetic opioid, was hypothesized, in the current study, to decrease shock-avoidance responding, which would signify a loss of efficacy of the aversive stimuli controlling the behavior. Along with the behavioral principles, the neurological sites of action activated by this drug were considered. Two specific opioid antagonists were injected concurrently with the oxycodone. Naloxone (0.3 1.7mg/kg), a receptor antagonist, and norbinaltorphimine (0.1 0.56mg/kg nor-BNI), which is a receptor antagonist were used in the current study. It was hypothesized that both antagonists would effectively negate the effects on responding due to oxycodone, therefore returning responding to baseline levels. Since oxycodone is believed to work on receptors, the nor-BNI was hypothesized to have a more pronounced effect and show a higher degree of antagonism compared to the naloxone. Shock-avoidance responding was significantly decreased after the administration of an effective dose of oxycodone (1.7mg/kg), thereby supporting the initial hypothesis. There were no significant differences between responding during baseline and both antagonist phases, which shows the efficacy of both antagonists to the oxycodone. No significant difference was found between the degree of antagonism between naloxone and nor-BNI, which did not support the hypothesis. This finding seems to support data showing the potential of oxycodone to be metabolized into a receptor agonist, but also supports oxycodone as a receptor agonist. The current study offers evidence to ideas concerning oxycodone”s detrimental effects on negatively reinforced behavior. This finding may very well hold social implications for the growing numbers of people abusing this drug, and for those trying to control its abuse.
Morandi, Nicole
Major/Mior: Neuroscience/Communication Arts
May 2003
First Reader: Clark
Second Reader: Coates
Title: The Long Term Effect of Creatine and Caffine on Increased Muscle Mass
Creatine is the most widely used natural ergogenic aid on the market today. Supplementing creatine extends phosphocreatine stores in the muscles allowing Adenosine Triphosphate to be produced from the phosphogen system for longer periods of time (McArdle, 1998). Creatine enhances short-term performance, leads to increased weight, and reduces muscle fatigue. Researchers are unsure whether the weight gains produced by creatine are lean muscle mass or water gain from the loading phase of creatine supplementation (Tarnopolsky et al., 2001). There are many products on the market that contain both creatine and caffeine. These products are intended to have a synergistic effect aiding performance to a new level. However, it is possible that caffeine negates the ergogenic effects of creatine (Vandenberghe et al., 1996). In the present study Sprague Dawly rats are used to predict that long-term use of creatine increases muscle mass. Second, it predicts that if caffeine is coupled with creatine these increases will be negated.
Nalevanko, Adam R.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Clark
Second Reader: Cross
Title: Prevention of 6-OHDA induced parkinsonism with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor l-deprenyl.
Parkinson,s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that selectively destroys the dopaminergic cells that arise in the substantia nigra and project onto nerve terminals in the striatum of the brain. This disease is characterized by progressive motor deficits in the individual suffering from PD. Although the cause of PD is unknown, there have been several proposed mechanisms that could serve as the culprit to this selective loss in the dopaminergic pathway within the brain. These suggested mechanisms, acting separately or cooperatively, include metabolic compromise, excitotoxicity, and oxidative stress. If an oxidative stressful mechanism is causing this destruction, a method of attacking the onset of this oxidative stress and relieving the brain of the necrotic and/or apoptotic nature of this type of cell death should be achieved by administering protective agents of this unneeded stress. The drug deprenyl (selegiline) is a selective irreversible MAOinhibitor and is currently used as an agent in attempts to retard the progressive cell loss in PD. Deprenyl’s protective properties were investigated in two experiments. The first experiment consisted of five rats receiving deprenyl injections once a day for five consecutive days before sustaining unilateral 6-OHDA lesions in the substantia nigra, pars compacta. This experiment investigated the preventative qualities of deprenyl when administered chronically. In the second experiment, five different rats received deprenyl immediately before sustaining the 6-OHDA lesions to test the effectiveness of deprenyl given acutely. The effectiveness of the lesions were assessed through d-Amphetamine induced rotational behavior, the elevated stick maze test, and histological preparations. A between subjects independent-T test revealed that the elevated stick maze suggests that protective effects against parkinsonism could exist in the rat when treated chronically versus acutely.
Nystrom, Sarah E.
Major/Minor: Neuroscience/Spanish
May 2003
First Reader: French
Second Reader: Coates
Title: An examination of a calcium-activated potassium channel (IK(Ca)) and Conus peptides that modulate the channel.
Predatory snails in the Conus genus, sculpted by over 50 million years of evolution, have developed a remarkably diverse array of neurotoxins that inflict excitotoxic shock and neuromuscular block on the nervous system of their prey. These tiny conopeptides, ranging from 10 to 30 amino acids in size, exhibit extreme subtype specificity. As a result of the conservation of numerous ion channels between invertebrates and vertebrates, many Conus ligands have been found to target neuronal channels and receptors in mammalian cells. The IK(Ca) channel in humans, encoded for by the hSlo gene, plays a predominant role in fast-transmitting nerve terminals. It helps to shape action potential wave forms through its role in afterhyperpolarization and controls the rate and pattern of repetitive firing in neurons. This study attempted to examine a calcium-activated potassium channel (IK(Ca)) as expressed in Xenopus oocytes, and screen Conus peptides for interactions with the channel. Due to molecular setbacks and poor oocyte health, hSlo channel expression was not accomplished. However, considerable advances were made in molecular procedures and equipment difficulties have been identified for correction. As a result of our accomplishments, the groundwork has been laid for continued exploration in this area.
Roble, Traci .L
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Hollerman
Second Reader: Cross
Title: The social and behavioral effects of prenatal valproic acid exposure in the zucker rat: an assessment of an autistic model
Research indicates that autism is a developmental disorder that disrupts many social and behavioral aspects of an individual’s life. The current study investigates the social and behavioral effects of prenatal valproic acid exposure in the Zucker rat, as an accepted animal model of autism. There was no significant difference in the social memory of the treated rats as compared to the control group. Exploratory behavior was broken into three types of movement, ambulatory, stationary, and total. The treated animals demonstrated lower ambulatory movement during habituation and trial 1 yet there was no significance between groups. In stationary movement, the controls were significantly higher than the treated group. The controls also showed significantly higher measures of total movement than the treated group. No significant difference was found between groups in conditioned place preference (novelty preference). The results of this study emphasize the need for tests that measure specific autistic symptoms induced in rats that provide a correlate to the human population.
Scott, Jeremy R.
Major/Minor: Neuroscience/Communication Arts
May 2003
First Reader: Cross
Second Reader: Coates
Title: Effects of Personality on Physiological Reactions To Exercise and Recovery Times.
The study examines the differences in physiological reactions to a ten minute period of exercise bike riding between Type A and Type B individuals. Personality type was distinguished using the STAXI-2. It was hypothesized that Type B individuals would react less to the exercise period than Type A individuals on the basis that for normal life stressors Type B people do in fact react less. It was also expected that Type B individuals would recover faster than Type A from the elevated levels. Testing and analysis revealed that this in fact was not the case. Type B individuals reacted more so than Type As. Recovery time showed no statistical difference.
Shadle, Erica L.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Clark
Second Reader: Cross
Title: The effects of malathion exposure on post-natal male and female sprague-dawley rats and resultant behavioral consequences as measured by performance on schedules of reinforcement.
The present study examined the effects of post-natal exposure to malathion, an insecticide organophosphate. A dosage of 0.5 mg/kg of a 12.5% concentrated malathion solution as well as 0.5 mg/kg distilled water were injected into 6 Sprague-Dawley rat pups. The experimental and control groups each consisted of 1 female and 2 male rat pups, and quasi-chronic injections began on post-natal day 14 and were concluded on post-natal day 36. Behavioral abnormalities were recorded throughout the experiment, and on days 49 through 69 the rats were tested on three schedules of reinforcement, FR 1, FR 5, and IRT>;. Each schedule regimen lasted 7 days. It was hypothesized that exposure to malathion early in life would have resultant deficits in learning and memory as judged by performance in an operant chamber. Females were expected to show greater effects to the organophosphate than males. The present experiment modeled studies by Moser (2000) and Levin et al. (2001). Results confirmed that malathion had a greater behavioral effect on the female rat pup. In addition, significant effects of malathion were noted based on performance in the three schedules of reinforcement. This revealed drug-related deficits in learning and memory.
Sholtis, Bethany L.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Hollerman
Second Reader: Cross
Title: Cognitive and Motor Assessments of an Acute Progressive Animal Model of Huntington’s Disease.
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a genetically inherited neurodegerative disease in which there is marked progressive degeneration of the striatum. The characteristic features of patients with HD are a triad of symptoms including impaired cognitive function, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and the cardinal clinical feature of choreic motor dysfunction. The relationships between these motor and cognitive abnormalities, which are incompletely understood, have been explored with animal models created in various ways. The neurotoxin quinolinic acid (QA) is an NMDA agonist that has been shown to mimic certain neurodegenerative diseases such as HD when administered intrastriatally to laboratory animals. The present study investigated the cognitive and motor abilities of 19 rats lesioned either as a sham control (n = 5), with one acute bilateral administration of 60nM QA into the striatum (n = 14), or with two acute bilateral administrations of 60nM QA into the striatum (n = 6). Following lesioning the cognitive and motor behavior of rats was studied. Results of behavioral testing indicated that one administration of the acid produced a slight impairment in fine motor performance. A second administration of the acid produced a much greater impairment in fine motor performance and a slight cognitive decline. Collectively, these results suggested that a single acute administration of QA did not mimic the deficits in HD. However, with increased exposure to QA through two acute administrations, fine motor performance and certain cognitive aspects of the disease do become impaired, providing a more complete model of HD.
Stablein, George J.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Hollerman
Second Reader: Coates
Title: The effects of dietary sodium chloride on levels and potency of angiotensin II in Ratus norvegicus.
The manipulation of dietary salt intake as an independent variable has several applications in the study of physiology, particularly dealing with the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The present study sought to examine the impact of a high salt diet (8%) on the potency of various concentrations of intravenously infused Angiotensin II (ANG II). Rats were maintained on a normal (1%) or high-salt diet for at least two weeks prior to data collection. At the conclusion of the two weeks, cannulas were implanted in the left femoral vein and artery of these animals, and the efficacy [induced drinking (dipsogenic) response and mean arterial pressure (MAP) response] of various concentrations of ANG II infused intravenously was examined. Statistical analysis of the obtained data were performed in order to test the effect of the interaction between dietary salt intake and ANG II effects on MAP and dipsogenesis and several dose-response curves of dipsogenesis and MAP response versus concentration of ANG II were generated. As the concentration of ANG II infused was increased, a significant change was observed in the MAP but not in dipsogenesis. Also, the MAP response and the dipsogenic response were not significantly different between control rats and those on the high salt diet.
Staudt, Liza A.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Clark
Second Reader: Cross
Title: The Effects of D1 and D4 Receptor Antagonist, SCH 23390 and U 101958, on Cocaine-Induced Locomotor Activity.
The present study examined the effects of D1 and D4 receptor antagonist, SCH 23390 and U 101958, on cocaine-induced locomotor activity. It is thought that dopamine antagonists may be a useful treatment in cocaine addiction and overdose. Drug administration was five minutes prior to testing through i.p. injections. Cocaine at 17 mg/kg was administered with a simultaneous injection of SCH 23390 (.01, .03, .1 mg/kg) or U 101958 (1 mg/kg). Nine female Spague-Dawley rats were used in this experiment, with a with-in subjects design. The only statistically significant data was that cocaine increased locomotor activity at doses of 10 and 17 mg/kg. Furthermore, the only antagonistic effect was observed at SCH 23390 at dose .1 mg/kg when injected thirty minutes prior to testing. Though patterns were observed, these results suggest future research investigation.
Surace, Jennifer L.
Major/Minor: Neuroscience/Philosophy
May 2003
First Reader: Coates
Second Reader: Clark
Title: Determination of the carbon dioxide detection threshold in two rat strains: Hilltop sprague dawley and Zucker rats
A previous study by Youngentob et al. (1991a) found that Long-Evans rats have the ability to detect low concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), at an average concentration of 0.5%. Strohl et al. (1997) reported that ventilatory responses in four different rat strains varied significantly and indicated there was a high degree of genetic transmission for the physiological responses of ventilation. The objective of this study was to determine whether two strains of trained rats, Zucker (Z) and Hilltop Sprague Dawley (HSD), can detect CO2 and to determine their CO2 detection threshold. Rats from each of these strains were operantly trained to detect CO2 and their threshold was determined when their percent correct response dropped below the 65% criterion. Both strains of rats could detect CO2 levels well below their end expiratory concentration. An apparent difference in CO2 detection threshold was found between the two strains. The Z rats had an average CO2 detection threshold of 1.32% and the HSD rats had an average threshold of 0.53% CO2. The present study provides evidence that CO2 detection is dependent on genetic transmission, and it aids in further research on the role of genetics in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Trillis, Christina
Major/Minor: Neuroscience/English
May 2003
First Reader: Rankin
Second Reader: Coenen
Title: Effects of eyestalk ablation on molting and reproduction in grass shrimp, Palaeomonetes pugio
The effect of eyestalk ablation on adult and juvenile grass shrimp, Palaeomonetes pugio, was studied at 20 degrees C and 28 degrees C. Animals that underwent unilateral eyestalk ablation molted more frequently than unablated controls at 20 degrees C. The first intermolt interval in control animals was longer than the second intermolt interval at 20 degrees C. Eyestalk ablated animals showed the opposite trend with the first intermolt interval being shorter. Females had a higher survival rate than did males at the lower temperature. At 28 degrees C, eyestalk ablation had no effect on the intermolt interval. Mortality was higher at the increased temperature.
Vinciguerra, Jennifer M.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology Minor: Religious Studies
May 2003
First Reader: Hollerman
Second Reader: Dickey
Title: The Effects of Prenatal Stress on Learning, Memory and Stress Response in Childhood
Prenatal stress has effects on the offspring that can last into adult life. Learning and memory can be affected as well as response to stress. Prenatal stress can cause dysfunction of the hypothalamo pituitary adrenal axis, which controls response to stress. The effects of prenatal stress on learning, memory and response to stress were observed in juvenile Sprague Dawley rats (1-2 months old). Learning was tested in the Morris water maze; memory was tested in a y-maze 2 trial memory test, a modification of the radial arm maze. Changes in locomotor activity in response to stress were also tested. There was a significant difference in the amount of time taken to find the hidden platform in the Morris water maze, the control group learned significantly more quickly. There was no significant difference in memory skills or in response to stress observed. These findings can provide a better understanding of the possible damaging effects of too much stress.
Weed, Lisa A.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Cross
Second Reader: Heuchert
Title: EEG analysis of music and emotion reactivity among depressed and non-depressed college students.
Depressed individuals often have a resting asymmetry between the left and right hemispheres. Music therapy is an upcoming treatment, which creates relaxation within the patient and ultimately decreases the difference in activity. This study used electroencephalograph (EEG) technique to examine the brain’s response to emotions in music in depressed and non-depressed participants. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to define a sample consisting of seven non-depressed participants and seven with high levels of depressive symptoms. The Profile of Mood States was administered to define current mood state during time of recording EEG. Brain activity was measured from the left and right frontal hemispheres as participants listened to six classical pieces of music with different affective quality, happy, sad, or neutral. Results showed an overall difference in relaxation between the depressed group and the non-depressed group. The happy pieces of music elicited more relaxation than sad or neutral in the depressed group. Music also lessened the asymmetry in the depressed group.
Whitehair, Brea E.
Double Major: Neuroscience/Psychology
May 2003
First Reader: Hollerman
Second Reader: Cross
Title: The Behavioral Effects of Sedative, Antidepressant and Antipsychotics in People with a Traumatic Brain Injury.
People who experience behavior problems as a result of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are often medicated with antipsychotics, antidepressants and sedatives (NIH, 1999). However, these medications were not designed to treat TBI and cause chemical changes in brains already struggling to heal themselves. This study sought to examine the effects of decreasing maintenance medications in 10 people with a TBI and severe behavior problems at an in-patient rehabilitation hospital (IRH) over the course of 9 weeks. Progress for each behavior problem was measured with a one-way within subjects analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results were significant for restraint procedures, F (8, 72) = 4.820, p< .05, grabs, F (8, 72) = 3.314, p< .05, and episodes of non-compliance, F (8,72) = 2.283, p< .05. Restraint procedures, grabs, episodes of non-compliance, unsafe behaviors and physical outbursts increased in weeks 1, 2 and 3 and then decreased until the end of the 9 weeks. All behavior problems decreased by the end of the study. Analysis of each patient’s prescribed medications revealed 5 of 10 patients were able to tolerate a decrease in maintenance medications. This study, along with other research, suggests people who sustain a TBI will perform better in rehabilitation if they are not overmedicated with sedatives, antidepressants and/or antipsychotics.