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Aggression In And Out Of The Surrounding Space, Marissa Incer
Aggression In And Out Of The Surrounding Space, Marissa Incer
Undergraduate Honors Theses
Social isolation is a type of punishment used to address misbehavior in individuals, such as children with time-outs and prisoners in solitary confinement. It was thought to be an effective method for teaching good behavior or alleviating tense situations. However, this type of punishment may worsen the punished individual’s aggression depending on the environment of isolation. The current study was divided into two experiments. In the first experiment, participants were isolated in a small (2x2 feet) or large (6x6 feet) space to observe if the space alone affected their aggression. In the second experiment, a frustration-inducing task was given to …
The Effects Of Loss Of Orexin Neurons On Attention, Alejandra Eceizabarrena Sainz
The Effects Of Loss Of Orexin Neurons On Attention, Alejandra Eceizabarrena Sainz
Undergraduate Honors Theses
Attention is the ability to process stimuli in the environment and select relevant cues amongst distractors. It is a crucial aspect of the nervous system that engages multiple brain circuits. Neurons that release the neuropeptide orexin are implicated in attention. These neurons originate in the lateral hypothalamus and send projections widely throughout the brain. Evidence suggests orexins modulate attentional mechanisms through interactions with ascending neuromodulatory systems such as the basal forebrain. Experiments manipulating orexin receptors have found a subsequent effect on attention-demanding tasks, with infusions of orexin A enhancing attention in the presence of distractors. In contrast, the blockade of …
The Cognitive & Educational Implications Of Color Use In Drawing To Learn, Juliana F.M. Cantarutti
The Cognitive & Educational Implications Of Color Use In Drawing To Learn, Juliana F.M. Cantarutti
Undergraduate Honors Theses
Drawing to Learn (D2L) is a learning aid that encourages STEM students to interact with abstract concepts in STEM by sketching. D2L is not an intuitive skill, and researchers strive to provide students with guidelines on how to master this method. One potential way to enhance the D2L method for students is by incorporation of visual cues, specifically color. While many students choose to incorporate color into their models without explicit instruction to do so, we have found no research on: a) why students use color in sketching, b) its effects on D2L. This study used interviews, surveys, and course …
A Mathematical Model Of Vagus Nerve Stimulation In Alzheimer's Disease, Julianne Miranda
A Mathematical Model Of Vagus Nerve Stimulation In Alzheimer's Disease, Julianne Miranda
Undergraduate Honors Theses
Alzheimer’s Disease is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by cognitive decline as a result of brain atrophy. The exact cause of Alzheimer’s is unknown but current theories involve the aggregation of amyloid beta plaques as well as neurofibrillary tangles. Inflammation is emerging as central to the progression of the disease, with increased amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles associated with the Nuclear Factor Kappa B pathway. This project presents a mathematical model of the impact of vagus nerve stimulation in Alzheimer’s Disease, as seen through the Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NFKB) pathway. The model examines several factors involved in the inflammatory …
Modeling And Analyses Of Mechanisms Underlying Network Synaptic Dynamics In Two Neural Circuits, Linda Ma
Modeling And Analyses Of Mechanisms Underlying Network Synaptic Dynamics In Two Neural Circuits, Linda Ma
Undergraduate Honors Theses
In systems neuroscience, circuit models of cortical structures can be used to deconstruct mechanisms responsible for spike patterns that generate a variety of behaviors observed in the brain. In particular, mathematical simulations of these circuits can replicate complex dynamical behaviors that mirror not only macroscopically patterns observed in the brain, but also a significant amount of experimentally characterized minutiae. These models are capable of analyzing neural mechanisms by explicitly deconstructing connectivities between populations of neurons in ways that tend to be empirically inaccessible. This work presents two such models; one in the rat somatosensory barrel cortex, responsible for processing sensory …
Cacna1g Transcript Knockdown Analysis Via In Situ Hybridization, Jennifer (Shih-En) Chen
Cacna1g Transcript Knockdown Analysis Via In Situ Hybridization, Jennifer (Shih-En) Chen
Undergraduate Honors Theses
The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) comprises the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) of the midbrain. It contains glutamatergic, cholinergic, and GABAergic interneurons, but only glutamatergic neurons influence locomotion, which is our focus here. The PPN receives upstream and downstream input from the basal ganglia. It projects to the reticular formation of the brainstem, which connects to the spinal cord. The PPN is involved in a wide range of physiological and behavioral processes, but our focus is locomotion. We hypothesize that the PPN influences the reticular activating system (RAS) of the medulla and thus the central pattern generators (CPG) in the spinal cord …
Attentional Dysfunction In Schizophrenia: The Effects Of Dual Orexin Receptor Blockade On An Nmda Receptor Hypofunction Model, Paige Little
Attentional Dysfunction In Schizophrenia: The Effects Of Dual Orexin Receptor Blockade On An Nmda Receptor Hypofunction Model, Paige Little
Undergraduate Honors Theses
Hypofunctionality at the N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) is a commonly used model of the neurodevelopmental disorder schizophrenia due to the complex circuitry changes that follow NMDAR blockade. While these animal models are very popular for modeling the cognitive deficits seen in schizophrenia, actual treatments for this disorder remain sparse. Orexins (hypocretins) are neuropeptides that are capable of modulating activity along pathways relevant to attention, but are rarely tested for their efficacy in attenuating attentional dysfunction. This study was conducted to determine if systemic administration of the dual orexin receptor antagonist filorexant (MK-6096) was able to attenuate sustained attentional dysfunction induced …
Effects Of Xanomeline On Attention In Rats, Grace Smith
Effects Of Xanomeline On Attention In Rats, Grace Smith
Undergraduate Honors Theses
The cholinergic system plays a large role in regulating attentional processing. Diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease are known to degrade cholinergic neurons and deactivate cholinergic M1 receptors. Dysfunction in the cholinergic system results in a wide range of cognitive deficits, including a decrease in attention. The cholinergic system has been a focus of drug research to help modulate acetylcholine levels in order to relieve AD symptoms. Xanomeline is a drug previously used in this endeavor that works via agonism of acetylcholine M1 and M4 receptors. Cognitive improvements of Xanomeline administration in AD are thought to be due to agonism of …