Neuroscience Student Research Projects

All FRI students present their research posters at campus events. Each cohort presents two posters, the first is a pre-proposal developed in the fall first-year Research Methods Seminar. The second poster represents results from the research proposed in the spring first-year course and then conducted in the fall second-year course. These posters are presented at a public session at the annual FRI Research Day in December. At that event, each student team has an opportunity to talk with other faculty and students about their research results.

Neuroscience Research Themes

  • Our FRI students utilize rodent models of anxiety and depression to investigate the dysfunction of neuronal circuits underlying the disorders and the manipulations which provide relief from the symptoms. The current focus of our research concerns a newly introduced animal model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder that shows exciting promise with which to explore new therapeutic strategies that are more effective and quicker acting than current medications for this debilitating disorder.

Student research teams utilize state-of-the-art instrumentation and a combination of modern behavioral and neurochemical techniques to evaluate the validity of a newly introduced rodent model of OCD and to explore new therapeutic strategies that are more effective and quicker acting for this debilitating disorder.

Cohort 10 2023-24 in Fall 2023, as first-year students (pre-proposal stage)

  • Behavioral task efficiency for assessing social isolation stress in adolescent rats
  • Comparing behavioral methods for measuring anxiety in adolescent rats
  • Comparing methods of evaluating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder-like behaviors in rats: A Literature Review
  • Measuring Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)-like cognitive symptoms in rats
  • Understanding addiction by comparing reward seeking behaviors in rats

Cohort 9 2022-23 in Fall 2023, as second-year students (research results)

  • Behavioral & monoamine neurochemical analysis of childhood stress in adolescent rats due to reduction of social enrichment
  • Effects of reduced social enrichment on behavioral addiction in rats evaluated with behavioral and neurochemical strategies
  • Examining the behavioral and neurochemical anxiety-like effects in rats caused by a reduction in social enrichment
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder-like behavioral and monoamine neurochemical analysis of a novel rat model of sudden reduction of social enrichment
  • The influence of the reduction of environmental enrichment on behaviors and neurochemistry in a rat model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Cohort 9 2022-23 in Fall 2022, as first-year students (pre-proposal stage)

  • Comparison of rat models relating dopamine release with anxiety-like behaviors: a literature review
  • Determining the effects of isolation upon addictive and repetitive rat behaviors: a literature review
  • Evaluating effects of stress upon adolescent rats: a literature review
  • Evaluating rat models of PTSD using neurotransmitter markers: a literature review
  • Investigation of dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate for evaluation of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) rat models: a literature review

Cohort 8 2021-22 in Fall 2022, as second-year students (research results)

  • Addictive-like behavioral effects and monoamine neurochemical effects of reduced enrichment on male and female adolescent rats
  • Analyzing OCD-like behavioral and monoamine neurochemical effects of a sudden reduction in enrichment utilizing rat animal models
  • Anxiety-like behavioral and monoamine neurochemical analysis of the sudden reduction of social enrichment in rats
  • Behavioral and monoamine neurochemical effects of the sudden reduction of social enrichment in a novel rat model of Tourette Syndrome
  • PTSD-like behavioral and monoamine neurochemical effects of a sudden reduction in social enrichment in a novel rat animal mode

Cohort 8 2021-22 in Fall 2021, as first-year students (pre-proposal stage)

  • Comparison of sleep deprivation methods for inducing anxiety in animal models: a literature review
  • Effect of social interaction on withdrawal symptoms in rat models: a literature review 
  • Effects of stress on tic expression in Tourette鈥檚 patients of differing age and sex: a literature review
  • Evaluation of neurochemical methods of inducing obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) behaviors in animal models: a literature review
  • Studying the effects of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on behavioral and neurochemical changes in rats: a literature review

Cohort 7 2020-21 in Fall 2021, as second-year students (research results)

  • Evaluation of a novel reduced enrichment rat model of depression using elevated plus maze and cortical monoamine analysis
  • Evaluation of stress-like behaviors and neurotransmitters in rats for novel animal model of childhood stress 
  • Evaluation of the novel reduced-enrichment model of post traumatic stress disorder through analysis of seconds before open arms, rears, and monoamine neurotransmitter levels in the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex
  • Reduced enrichment altered pokes and neurochemicals in the prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus
  • Validity of novel reduced environmental enrichment rat model of anxiety evaluated by open arm and hole poking behaviors and analysis of thalamic neurotransmitters

Cohort 7 2020-21 in Fall 2020, as first-year students (pre-proposal stage)

  • Anxiety-like behavior in male rats is best modeled by exposure to predator odor as demonstrated on the elevated plus maze
  • Emotional stressors are more effective than physical stressors when modelling nicotine addiction in rats
  • Evaluating the effects of a long-term stressor in male and female rats using the NeoCLOM Animal Model of post traumatic stress disorder by examining fight, flight, or freeze behavioral responses
  • Evaluation of chronic versus acute environmental experiences on rat behaviors to model childhood stress
  • Immobility in forced swim test shows greatest sex differences in rat models of depression

Cohort 6 2019-20 in Fall 2020, as second-year students (research results)

  • Behavioral evaluation of hole pokes and rears in NeoClOM Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is influenced by sex
  • Evaluation of repeat poke and total line crosses of male and female rats in the NeoCLOM Animal Model of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  • Neonatal Clomipramine Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) demonstrates behavioral sex differences within rats in the elevated plus maze and hole board
  • Sex influences behavioral evaluation of hole pokes and rears in NeoClOM Model of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Sex-linked behavioral disparities in rearing and hole poking behaviors affect evaluation of the Neo-Clomipramine Animal Model of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Cohort 6 2019-20 in Fall 2019, as first-year students (pre-proposal stage)

  • Hypothetical Checking Behavior Supports the Validity of NeoCLOM Rat Model of OCD in Female Rats
  • Hypothetical Grooming Behaviors Support the Validity of the NeoClom Model of OCD
  • Hypothetical Hole Poking Supports Validity of neoCLOM Rat Model of OCD in Males, but not Females
  • Hypothetical Open Field Behaviors Support Validity of Neo-CLOM Animal Model of OCD in Males, but not Females
  • Hypothetical Spontaneous Alternation Supports the Validity of the neoCLOM Rat Model of OCD in Males

Cohort 5 2018-19 in Fall 2019, as second-year students (research results)

  • Analysis of Post-mortem Striatal Neurotransmitters and Anxiety-Like Behaviors in a Novel Animal Model of OCD
  • Evaluation of EPM and HB Behaviors in Neonatal Clomipramine Model of OCD Shows Significant Sex Differences and Poor Female Face Validity
  • Evaluation of the neonatal clomipramine model of OCD demonstrates significant sex differences and poor validity for female subjects
  • Hole Board Behaviors in Neonatal Clomipramine Rat Model Show Face Validity in Male but not Female Rats
  • Neonatal Treatment with Clomipramine Generates an Animal Model of OCD with Face Validity in Male but not Female Rats

Cohort 5 2018-19 in Fall 2018, as first-year students (pre-proposal stage)

  • Comparison of Rat Behaviors that Model Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  • Evaluation of Targets for Deep Brain Stimulation in a Rat Model of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Effect of Hormonal Cycles on Obsessive Compulsive Behaviors in a Rat Model
  • Manipulation of the Subthalamic Nucleus to Reduce Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in a Rat Model: Deep Brain Stimulation versus Localized Drug Injection
  • Use of a Rat Model to Investigate Ketamine as an Alternative Pharmacological Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Cohort 4 2017-18 in Fall 2018, as second-year students (research results)

  • Analysis of Anti-Choline Acetyltransferase Saporin as a Viable Model for Alzheimer's Disease and its Effects on Movement
  • Analysis of Neurotransmitter Preservation through Heat Inactivation of Enzymes
  • Effects of Anti ChAT Saporin Lesions on Spatial Memory and ACh Levels in the Hippocampus
  • Effects of Isoflurane on Monoamines in the Corpus Striatum of Male and Female Rats
  • Effects of Varying Isoflurane Anesthesia Levels on Serotonin and Dopamine Levels in the Rat Motor Circuit
  • The effect of sodium pentobarbital and isoflurane on acetylcholine concentration in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus, striatum, and substantia nigra

Cohort 4 2017-18 in Fall 2017, as first-year students (pre-proposal stage)

  • The Impact of Sex on Anxiety
  • Comparing Humans and Amphetamine-Induced Schizophrenic Rat Models Through Behavior and Dopamine Analysis
  • Comparing and Contrasting Models of Akinesia in 6-OHDA Lesioned Rats
  • Analysis of Chronic Stress on Spatial Memory Performance of Rats
  • Interleukins and Schizophrenia
  • The Ideal Parkinsonian Model in Rats

Cohort 3 2016-17 in Fall 2017, as second-year students (research results)

  • Monoamines of the Parkinsonionan Brain in Males and Females Rats
  • L-DOPA's Anxiogenic Effects On Parkinsonian Rats
  • The Effect of L-DOPA on Sex Differences in Neuroinflammation in the Striatum in Parkinsonian Rats
  • Hippocampal Neurochemistry following L-Dopa Treatment in 6-OHDA-Lesioned Rats
  • Sex Differences in Expression of Dopamine Pathway Gene Markers in L-Dopa-Induced Dyskinesia

Cohort 3 2016-17 in Fall 2016, as first-year students (pre-proposal stage)

  • Comparing MPTP animal models of Parkinson's disease
  • A review of levodopa, dopamine agonists, and MAO-B inhibitors in the treatment of Parkinson's disease
  • Examining the brain's planning abilities via the Tower of London test: A method of evaluating cognitive deficits in Parkinson's disease
  • Analysis of Alzheimer's disease progression in transgenic mice, transgenic rats, and macaques
  • The positive effects of exercise on Parkinson's disease in humans
  • Cardiovascular exercise positively affects postpartum depression and bipolar disorder

Cohort 2 2015-16 in Fall 2016, as second-year students (research results)

  • Effect of 6-OHDA Unilateral Lesioning on Handedness in rat models of Parkinson's disease
  • Dopamine and Acetylcholine Lesion Model Reflects Parkinson's Disease Symptoms and L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia
  • The Role of D2 receptors on motor and cognitive function in healthy Sprague-dawley rats
  • Effects of Clonidine and Atipamezole on L-DOPA induced dyskinesia
  • Immunohistological analysis of acetylcholine loss on the etiology of Parkinson's disease

Cohort 2 2015-16 in Fall 2015, as first-year students (pre-proposal stage)

  • Effects of loss of dopamine on spatial working memory in Parkinson鈥檚 disease patients
  • How does nicotine serve as a neuroprotective agent in Parkinson鈥檚 disease?
  • Parkinson鈥檚 vs. Alzheimer鈥檚: Overlap between prominent neurodegenerative diseases
  • Treatments for Parkinsonian depression
  • Comparison of treatments for L=DOPA-induced dyskinesia in patients with Parkinson鈥檚 disease
  • Comparison of anti-inflammatories and antioxidants as neuroprotective agents in Parkinson鈥檚 disease

Cohort 1 2014-15 in Fall 2015, as second-year students (research results)

  • Music therapy for Parkinsonian-like memory deficits
  • Target actions of a2-adrenergic receptor agonist and antagonist in modulating L-DOPA-induced dyskinesis in Parkinsonian model
  • Sex differences in Sprague-Dawley rats
  • Effect of L-DOPA and DA agonism on dyskinesia and motor function in DA and dual (DA+ACH) lesioned rats
  • Effects of dopamine receptor specific drugs on treatment of cognitive deficits in Parkinson鈥檚 disease

Cohort 1 2014-15 in Fall 2014, as first-year students (pre-proposal stage)

  • Consequence of dopamine and acetylcholine lesions on cognitive ability in rats
  • Exposure to bisphenol A: Effects on mother and fetus
  • Role of hydrotherapy in CNS disorders
  • Dehydration and your brain: How dehydration changes electroencephalographic activity and cognitive performance
  • Water craving as a symptom of mental disorder
  • Effects of fluoride concentrations in types of water