Project Overview
Modulatory effects of serotonin and dopamine on animal behavior.
Department(s)
Neuroscience
Psychological and Brain Sciences
Abstract
Research in my laboratory is aimed at understanding animal behavior and how it is modulated by monoamine neurotransmitters. Several lines of research are currently underway and summer research students will have the opportunity to participate in one or more of these projects. A major focus is on examining how serotonin and dopamine affect feeding behavior, aggression, and locomotion. Past experiments have used a pharmacological approach to characterize how serotonin receptor agonists and antagonists affect food consumption, general activity level, and dominance status in crayfish and/or crickets. Recent experiments are also exploring the ability of animals to modulate their own physiology and behavior by selecting among different foods. The latter work builds on a large literature on diet self-selection in insects and uses crickets as a model species.
Student Qualifications
A prerequisite for this project is Introduction to Neuroscience (Neur 170). Preference may be given to students who have taken upper-level courses with Prof. Tierney (Neur/Biol/Psyc 384 or 385)
Number of Student Researchers
2 students
Project Length
8 weeks