Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons^™

Neuroprotective Effects Of Estradiol And Genistein And Interactions With Aromatase Inhibitions Post Cerebellar Lesion In Male Zebra Finches, Grace E. Thompson, Anthony P. Irovic

Honors Theses

Across vertebrates, peripheral and brain-derived estradiol (E₂) promotes neuroplasticity. After injury, E₂ can be derived locally from testosterone via aromatase (AROM), an enzyme that is upregulated in glia at the site of neural injury. E₂disrupts testicular function and elevates cancer and stroke risk, primarily via binding to estrogen receptor alpha (ER α). Genistein (GEN), a phytoestrogen, is similar to E₂ but binds preferentially to estrogen receptor beta (ER β). It may offer neuroprotection without adverse effects of E₂. We used adult male zebra finches (ZF) to model neuroprotective effects of E_{2 …}

Invisible Shipwrecks And Neurological Endangerment: The Trade-Off In Seeking Asylum - Reframing The Neurobiological Cost Of Forced Migration, Eisha Giran

CISLA Senior Integrative Projects

Forced migration along the Spain–Morocco route represents one of the most visible humanitarian crises of the twenty-first century, yet its neurological dimensions remain insufficiently examined. This paper investigates how prolonged displacement and trauma reshape neural systems involved in stress regulation, memory, and emotional processing. It introduces the concept of neurological endangerment, defined as a condition of prolonged and inescapable threat exposure during forced migration in which stress-response systems remain chronically activated, opportunities for recovery are structurally constrained, and cumulative neurobiological risk persists beyond the period of immediate danger.

To address the gap between biological measurement and lived experience, this paper …

Stromal Interaction Molecule (Stim) Proteins In Microglia And The Impact On Store-Operated Calcium Entry (Soce) And Spinal Cord Injury Recovery, Norah G. Hill

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

In spinal cord injury (SCI), worsening functional outcomes are largely because of secondary injury processes and prolonged chronic inflammation. A major contributor of secondary injury is overload of intracellular calcium, causing neuronal overexcitation and persistent inflammatory responses. One of the primary mediators of calcium entry into the cell is store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). In SOCE, sensors detecting calcium depletion from the endoplasmic reticulum stores are called STIM proteins (1-2). When calcium is low in the cell, STIM proteins will activate Orai channels to open, allowing for the influx of calcium into the cell. The purpose of this study was to …

The Influence Of Valence On Action Control: A Comparison Of Simon Effects In The Extrinsic Affective Simon Task (East) And The Spatial Simon Task, Yaara Aleissa

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

People adjust their thoughts and actions in response to a changing environment every day and emotions may influence these actions. Understanding how emotion impacts action control in situations where emotion is central to the action (task-relevant) compared to when it is present in the environment as distracting information (task-irrelevant) is essential. Currently it is unclear when emotion most significantly modulates action control. This study seeks to compare how valence (positive versus negative emotion) impacts action control performance when valence is task-relevant and task-irrelevant by using two modified versions of the Simon conflict task.

The Simon task is a paradigm to …

Expanding Access To Noninvasive Spinal Neuromodulation For Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: A Comparative Device Study, Alice E C Palmer

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Paralysis following spinal cord injury (SCI) has traditionally been considered permanent due to the disruption of supraspinal input to spinal motor circuits. However, growing evidence suggests that spinal networks below the level of injury retain intrinsic motor-generating capabilities through central pattern generators. Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (scTS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique that delivers electrical stimulation through the skin to reactivate these spinal networks. Although prior studies demonstrate that scTS delivered through research-grade devices is safe and effective in adults and children with chronic SCI, clinical translation remains limited by lack of FDA-approved systems, high costs, and restricted access to …

Preclinical Animal Modeling To Investigate Redox-Mediated Molecular Dysfunction In Traumatic Brain Injury, Brandon Z. Mcdonald

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Impacts associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) induce a multitude of neurological morbidities mediated by a spread of biochemical dysfunction. Redox stress is a significant contributor to TBI pathophysiology and several redox stress markers have substantial evidence to support their role in diagnosing preclinical and clinical TBI. However, there is a critical need to verify their translational utility through correlations with behavioral, imaging, and molecular modalities. In chapter two, we examined the therapeutic efficacy of an antioxidant treatment (NPC3) using a controlled cortical impact (CCI) mouse model of TBI. NPC3 alleviated glial expression and reactivity while influencing the expression of …

Adventitial Macrophage Accumulation Impairs Perivascular Nerve Function In Mesenteric Arteries With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Elizabeth A. Grunz, Benjamin W. Jones, Olubodun Michael Lateef, Sidharth Sen, Katie Wilkinson, Trupti Joshi, Erika M. Boerman

Biomedical Sciences

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease involves aberrant immune responses and is associated with both cardiovascular disease risk and altered intestinal blood flow. However, little is known about how inflammatory bowel disease affects regulation of perivascular nerves that mediate blood flow. Previous work found perivascular nerve function is impaired in mesenteric arteries with Inflammatory bowel disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism of impaired perivascular nerve function.

Methods: RNA sequencing was performed on mesenteric arteries from IL10−/− mice treated with H. hepaticus to induce disease (inflammatory bowel disease) or left non-gavaged (Control). For all other studies, Control and …

Eeg Studies Of Pre-Stimulus Activity During Turn-Taking In Naturalistic Conversation, Seyedmohamadreza Manzourolajdad

Student Works (2020-2029)

This study integrates conversational analysis principles and neural activity to investigate natural cognition and examine event-related brain changes. A wireless electroencephalography (EEG) device was used in an ecological validity setting to analyse pre-stimulus brain activity preceding conversational turns. This study aims to identify aspects of the conversation that reflect its naturalness in the aspect of listening and the corresponding brain activity by analysing the signals before and after a turn in a conversation. This research contributes to an ecologically valid understanding of natural conversation as a social action that enables seamless communication. Seven Malaysian participants (aged 19–22, M=20.46) engaged in …

Effects Of Limb Dominance On Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration In A 6-Ohda Rat Model Of Parkinson’S Disease Assessed By Immunoblotting, Jasin Aziz Porshia, Deanna Chaialee, Dipesh Pokharel, Kala Venkiteswaran, Thyagarajan Subramanian, Dilshan Beligala

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Effects of Limb Dominance on Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in a 6-OHDA Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease Assessed by Immunoblotting

Jasin Porshia^a , Deanna Chaialee^a , Dipesh Pokharel^b,c , Kala Venkiteswaran^{b, c, d} , Thyagarajan Subramanian^{b, c, d}, Dilshan Beligala^a

^aDepartment of Biological Sciences, Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH, USA

^bDepartment of Neurosciences and Psychiatry, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA

^cDepartment of Neurology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA

^dDepartment of Neurology, Howard University, Washington, DC, …

A Single Administration Of Psilocybin Is Ineffective In Reversing Ptsd-Like Sequelae In A Rat Model Of Stress-Enhanced Fear Learning, Kylie M. King, Marisa J. Savini, Noelle M. Molnar, Evelynn J. Schneider, Savannah E. Straub, Joe Parker, Lillianna P. Puppel, Aleece K. Al-Olimat, Allison M. Bach, Phillip R. Zoladz

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Single treatments with psychedelics produce rapid, long-lasting antidepressant effects. Psychedelics may also exert anxiolytic effects and be useful in treating more complex psychiatric conditions, such as PTSD. However, less is known about the impact of these agents on PTSD-related symptoms. Thus, we aimed to determine whether a single administration of psilocybin could reverse PTSD-like sequelae induced by stress-enhanced fear learning in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in Context A (circular, white conditioning box) and exposed to several uncontrollable footshocks (Stress) or no footshocks (No Stress). The next day, the rats were placed in Context B (square conditioning box with clear …

Psilocybin And The Related Tryptamine, Norbaeocystin, Exert Acute Anxiogenic Effects That Depend On Sex, Marisa J. Savini, Kylie M. King, Noelle M. Molnar, Evelynn J. Schneider, Savannah E. Straub, Joe Parker, Lillianna P. Puppel, Aleece K. Al-Olimat, Allison M. Bach, Andrew Jones, Phillip R. Zoladz

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Single treatments with psychedelics have demonstrated rapid, long-lasting antidepressant effects. However, psychedelics often produce unfavorable psychoactive effects that could worsen existing psychological distress. Thus, we compared the effects of psilocybin and the related tryptamine, norbaeocystin, on anxiety-like behavior in male and female rats. In Experiment 1, rats were treated with 1 mg/kg psilocybin (PSIL), 1 mg/kg norbaeocystin (NOR), or vehicle 30 min before a 5-min trial on an elevated plus maze (EPM) or in an open field test (OFT). On the EPM, PSIL led to decreased open arm time and fewer arm entries in males and females. NOR led to …

Quantifying Sleep Wake Rhythms In The Hospital Environment With Digital Technologies, Carsten Skarke, Nadim El Jamal, Michael V. Genuardi, Thomas G. Brooks, Antonijo Mrčela, Nicholas F. Lahens, Makayla Cordoza, Sean Sarles, Amarachi Mbadugha, Dineth R. Karunamuni, Shikhar Gupta, Charles J. Bae, Amita Sehgal, Thomas P. Cappola, Jacob T. Gutsche, Pavan Atluri, Nimesh D. Desai, Michael A. Acker, Gregory R. Grant, Richard J. Schwab, Ilene M. Rosen, Garret A. Fitzgerald

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

Postoperative clinical care is prone to circadian desynchronization that may influence health outcomes. In an exploratory, feasibility-oriented and signal-exploration effort, we collected 1.8 million data points using 11 remote sensors during preoperative, in-hospital and post-discharge settings in 13 elective cardiac surgery patients (5.2% enrolled from 252 screened). We found that room traffic continued during nighttime with ≥1 visit/h. Sound levels exceeded the recommended 45 dBA threshold (51.9 ± 3.3 vs. 48.3 ± 4.2 dBA during nighttime). Brightness dropped at night (89.9 ± 87.7 to 3.7 ± 9.8 lux), but bright light exposures occurred. Ambient room temperature lacked sleep-inducing diurnal variability. …

Optimizing Itpa R178c Assays Via Hplc, Jared J. Reisnouer, Wally D. Pines

2026 Symposium

Two of the major nucleotide bases in DNA and RNA (Adenine and Guanine) are derived from the purine Inosine Monophosphate (IMP). IMP may occasionally form the noncanonical nucleotide Inosine Triphosphate (ITP) within the cell and become incorporated into DNA during replication, leading to potentially lethal errors. To combat this, human cells produce the “housekeeping” enzyme Inosine Triphosphatase (ITPA) to revert ITP to IMP. A mutation of this protein that replaces the 178th amino acid Arginine with Cysteine (R178C) is associated with a fatal infantile encephalopathy. Previous assessments of enzyme-substrate binding and catalysis for ITPA variants have been run at a …

Continuous Light And Pinealectomy: Two Models Of Melatonin Deficiency Revealing Distinct Interactions With Vitamin D Deficiency On Blood Parameters, Rebaz Sedeeq Shekh, Ismail Mustafa Maulood

Polytechnic Journal

Modern lifestyles reduce sunlight exposure and increase artificial light at night, potentially promoting vitamin D deficiency (VDD) and melatonin (MEL) suppression. The two hormones regulate immunity, erythropoiesis, and platelet (PLT) indices, but their combined hematological effects are not well characterized. We investigated the independent and combined effects of VDD and MEL deficiency on leukocyte profiles, erythrocyte indices, and PLT parameters in albino rats using two 12-week models (n = 8/group): continuous light (CL)-induced MEL suppression (Control, CL, VDD, and CL + VDD) and pinealectomy (Px)-induced MEL deficiency (Sham. Px, VDD, Px + VDD). Complete blood counts (CBCs) and inflammation-related ratios …

Genotype-Dependent Response Of Huntington’S Disease Cells To Non-Contact Picosecond Pulsed Electric Fields (Pspef), Augustine U. Anthony, Mackenzie A. Tardif-Kunk, Martina Zamponi, Peter A. Mollica

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Non-Contact Picosecond Pulsed Electric Fields (psPEF) improved metabolic function in mutant Huntington diseased isogenic cell lines.

Cognition And Mental Health: Addressing The Impact Of Traumatic Brain Injuries (Tbi) On Adults, Hannah E. Smith, Lesley Khan-Farooqi, Anne Mcdonnell, Mpa, Otr/L, Cbist

Spring 2026 OTD Capstone Symposium

This project addresses cognitive and mental health challenges in adults with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). It developed evidence-based resources, including a clinician handbook and user-friendly survivor guidebook - using research, interviews, and observations. The materials were refined with expert feedback and support improved interventions, education, and quality of life for individuals with TBIs, and their caregivers.

Cognitive And Mental Health Challenges: Addressing The Impact Of Traumatic Brain Injuries In Adults, Hannah E. Smith, Lesley Khan-Farooqi, Phd, Otd, Otr, Anne Mcdonnell, Mpa, Otr/L, Cbist

Student Capstone Papers

This capstone examined the challenges adults face following traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and explored interventions aimed at enhancing cognitive functioning and mental health. This capstone also aimed to reduce caregiver stress and burnout by expanding knowledge and resources focused on cognitive and mental health within the population. TBIs can result from a variety of causes, affecting cognitive abilities, mental health, and functional outcomes. This capstone shows evidence-based interventions designed to improve cognitive functioning, facilitate engagement in meaningful activities to improve mental health, and enhance overall quality of life for adults recovering from TBI. This also will demonstrate potential for occupational …

Survivin And Caspases Coordinate Proteolytic Cleavage Of The Saga Chromatin Modifying Complex, Elinor Harrison, Alejandro Damian, Cj Talton

Medical Student Research Symposium

Title: Survivin and Caspases Coordinate Proteolytic Cleavage of the SAGA Chromatin Modifying Complex

Elinor Harrison¹, Alejandro Damian¹, CJ Talton¹, Jelly H Soffers¹, Abudu I Bello¹, Kara M Costanzo¹, Joe Bean¹, Ryan D Mohan¹

¹Wayne State University School of Medicine

Background: The Spt Ada Gcn5 Acetyltransferase (SAGA) chromatin modifying complex is a critical regulator of gene expression. Mutation or stoichiometric imbalance of SAGA subunits leads to a spectrum of diseases in model organisms and in humans, including neurodegeneration. SAGA contributes to gene activation through coordinated …

Assessing Functional Visual Recovery After Retinal Regeneration In Zebrafish Using The Optokinetic Response (Okr), Yeganeh Tabatabaei Alavi, Yeganeh Tabatabaei Alavi

Medical Student Research Symposium

Zebrafish have a unique ability to regenerate retinal neurons through Müller glia-mediated reprogramming, a process not found in mammals. While structural regeneration has been extensively documented, the degree to which regenerated photoreceptors restore functional vision remains unclear. The optokinetic response (OKR), a reflexive eye-tracking behavior triggered by moving visual stimuli, provides a quantitative, non-invasive method to assess visual performance. This study aims to determine whether photoreceptor regeneration following acute and chronic light-induced injury results in functional restoration of vision. Adult zebrafish will be divided into three groups: uninjured control, acute injury (short-term high-intensity light), and chronic injury (long-term low-intensity light). …

Exploring Synthesized Cbd Derivatives: Implications Of Therapeutic Strategies For Neuroinflammation, Josephine Mosser

Senior Theses

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid derived from Cannabis Sativa with well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, yet its clinical utility is limited by moderate receptor selectivity, rapid hepatic metabolism, and broad pharmacological activity on the central nervous system (CNS). This thesis describes the design and partial execution of a multi-step synthetic route aimed at generating CBD/CBD-derived chalcone intermediates for potential therapeutic applications for neuroinflammation. The steps encompass an O-methylation, O-acetylation, and a Fries rearrangement. The first three steps were completed successfully and reproducibly shown through 1H-NMR and 12C-NMR; however, purification of the fourth step was not successful within the available …

Blink & Beat: Pupillometry Response In Autonomic Nervous System Monitoring, Ximena Castillo

2026 Spring Honors Capstones Projects

In the neuroscience intensive care unit (NSICU), nurses rely on advanced monitoring tools to detect neurological deterioration. Two noninvasive measures, heart rate variability (HRV) and pupillary light reflex (PLR), are used to assess autonomic nervous system function; however, it remains unclear whether these indicators provide overlapping or distinct information. The purpose of this observational prospective study is to evaluate the relationship between HRV and quantitative pupillometry measurements to determine whether these noninvasive indicators provide congruent information. Data already collected as routine care from NSICU patients is extracted from the medical record for analysis. Understanding the correlation between HRV and PLR …

The Effects Of Sour & Spicy Food On Visual & Auditory Reflexes, Aditi Kumar, Alondra-Sophia Martinez, Magdalena E. Saad, Emma J. Welsch

Posters - 2026

• The reflex reaction time measures how quickly the nervous system can respond to a stimulus. • In the experiment, both visual and auditory reflexes were measured to evaluate differences in reaction time after the consumption of sour and spicy foods. • Spices and herbs produce different signals that interact with the nervous system. (McMullen 2024) • Comparing the response times from before and after consumption, this experiment allowed us to determine if different tastes affect reflex reaction times.

Hsp90 Inhibitor In Reducing Integrated Stress Response In An Experimental Mouse Model Of Spinal Cord Injury, Yousef Abozaid, Aditya Sarkar, Lukasz P. Slomnicki, Michal Hetman

The Cardinal Edge

Spinal cord injury (SCI) initiates a complex cascade of molecular events, including protein misfolding and neuroinflammation, contributing to neural damage and impaired functional recovery. Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90), a critical molecular chaperone involved in cellular stress responses, emerges as a promising therapeutic target to mitigate secondary damage after SCI. This study was designed to validate the in-vivo effects of different doses of HSP90 inhibitor, HSP990-i, administered acutely after moderate T9 SCI mouse model. The level of HSP70 protein level is measured through western blot from the injury epicenter. Adult mice underwent experimental contusive SCI at the T9 level, followed …

Hallucinogens For Mood And Anxiety Disorders: A Critical Review Of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies, Georgia Chlebek

The Cardinal Edge

In quite a few people worldwide, there are several mental disorders that prevent the brain from operating in the “proper” way, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being among the most common. Luckily, there are several medications that are produced and used to treat these disorders, but some medications are hard to access, and others simply don’t help the patient. Firstly, these medications take time to study and prove safe for public use, though in some cases time is not readily available. In other cases, these medications are going through shortages and becoming increasingly difficult for patients to access …

Disrupted Nuclear Function And Nucleocytoplasmic Transport In Parkinson’S Disease, Ichiro M. Matoba

The Cardinal Edge

No abstract provided.

Humanity Is Evolving Its Consciousness: The Role Of Archetypal Energies As Guides During An Unfolding Weeding Out And Alignment Process, Carroy U. Ferguson

Psychology Faculty Publication Series

Humanity is evolving its consciousness at individual and collective levels.  Given these seemingly tumultuous times, as of this writing (January 2026), to make such a statement may sound like a strange thing to say.  However, I suggest that if you are alive today and if you are reading these words, these are the very times for which you were born—to assist Humanity as it evolves its consciousness with your unique gifts, whatever they may be.  That is, this period of our individual and collective human being-ness may be characterized as an unfolding period of weeding out and alignment with the …

An Impact Assessment Of The Effectiveness Of Utilizing Informal Health Communication Interventions To Spread Health Recommendations And Change Public Perception, Lina Mohamed Ezzat Ahmed Abdel Mawgoud

Theses and Dissertations

Brain health is an increasingly urgent but critically under-addressed public health priority in Egypt and the wider MENA region. Despite its centrality to aging, productivity, and overall quality of life, public understanding of brain health remains limited, and stigma continues to shape responses to dementia and cognitive decline. This study evaluates the effectiveness of informal, culturally adapted health communication as a tool to shift perception, increase awareness, and promote behavior change among non-medically trained adults in Egypt.

Grounded in global evidence on cognitive reserve, neuroplasticity, and the life-course approach to brain health, the intervention translated expert-informed brain health recommendations into …

Wavelet-Based Mechanomyographic Intensity Responses To Sustained Tasks Anchored To Low Versus High Ratings Of Perceived Exertion, Dolores G. Ortega, Robert W. Smith, Jocelyn E. Arnett, Tyler J. Neltner, Trevor D. Roberts, Justin S. Pioske, Richard J. Schmidt, Terry J. Housh

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Purpose: This study examined the effects of sustained, isometric forearm flexion tasks anchored to ratings of perceived exertion of 2 (RPE2_FT) versus 8 (RPE8_FT) on the wavelet-based mechanomyographic (MMG) intensity responses from pretest and posttest maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) as well as the time course of changes in the MMG intensity responses throughout the sustained tasks. Methods: Eleven men (mean±SD: age=20.9±2.3 yrs) performed MVICs before and after the sustained tasks. The wavelet analyses decomposed the MMG signals onto a set of 11 wavelet bands (WBs). Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyze the MMG intensity …

Brain Gains: A Review Of Remediation Treatment Strategies Using Exercise Following Traumatic Brain Injury, Jessica Smith, Kristin Biggins, Loriann Helgeson

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

In this Opinions in the Profession article, we explore remediation treatment strategies using exercise for recovery from post-traumatic brain injury and aim to justify the use of such treatment in the occupational therapy profession to increase skills for functional gain. Common treatment strategies used by occupational therapists after brain injury are compensatory strategies, indicating the client learns a new way to perform the task. Though effective, it is also necessary to consider how remediation and neuroplasticity are essential. Teaching new approaches to complete tasks results in functional gains; however, focusing on foundational skills using exercises to relearn motor patterns to …

The Role Of Extracellular Vesicles As Diagnostic Tools In Gut-Brain Axis Disorders, Patricia Marçal Da Costa, Paulo Iury Gomes Nunes, Gabriella Cunha Vieira Ciurleo, José Wagner Leonel Tavares Junior, Pedro Braga Neto, Ludmila Belayev, Reinaldo Barreto Oriá

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

The gut–brain axis represents a dynamic two-way signaling network whose dysregulation has been implicated in a wide range of neurogastrointestinal disorders. In this context, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as critical mediators of intercellular signaling and as promising non-invasive biomarkers. Derived from host and microbial cells, EVs carry bioactive cargo—including proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and metabolites—that reflect the physiological or pathological state of their cells of origin. Their ability to cross biological barriers, such as the blood–brain barrier, underscores their potential for diagnosing and monitoring gut–brain axis dysfunctions. In this mini-review, we integrate microbial and brain-derived EVs within the framework …