Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons^™

Examing Fear Conditioning/Extinction And The Role Of The Amygdala In Human Neuroimaging., Olivia Cook

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fear plays a crucial role in survival but can lead to psychological disorders when dysregulated. Fears can be innate due to evolutionary relevance or learned through associative processes, where predictive accuracy of threat is pivotal. Disruptions in fear neurocircuitry contribute to anxiety disorders, characterized by heightened activation and impaired learning. Fear conditioning and extinction paradigms based on classical Pavlovian conditioning have been used to study mechanisms underlying fear learning. Using this experimental model, fear networks in rodents have been described in detail with clear distinction between conditioning and extinction neural functioning. Yet, there is no consensus on the neurobiological processes …

Genetic Identification Of A Rapidly-Adapting Low-Threshold Mechanoreceptor Innervating Fungiform Papillae., Thomas Alexander Myers Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mechanosensory innervation of the oral cavity enables us to detect the texture and location of the foods we consume. Our goal was to find a genetic identifier for a mechanoreceptive subtype. Toward this goal, we examined neurons expressing the neurotrophin receptor TrkC, parvalbumin (Pvalb), and the glutamate transporter Vglut3. Because different papilla types contribute to food detection in different ways, we examined the innervation patterns of these neuron subtypes. We found that Pvalb+ and Vglut3+ neurons were fungiform papilla specific, where TrkC innervated both papilla types. We examined the anatomy of the three genetic populations, finding that the Pvalb+ neurons …

Visualizing The Fretboard: Arpeggiated Patterns, Muscle Memory, And Neurocognitive Strategies For The 5-String Electric Bass, Matthew Alexander Woisin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Proficient navigation of the 5-string electric bass requires a comprehensive mastery of various techniques and a solid understanding of music theory. This includes a detailed grasp of arpeggios, chord extensions, and the development of deeply ingrained muscle memory for precise execution. This thesis introduces a structured methodology that refines existing fretboard visualization techniques and applies a unique manner of fretboard mapping, offering a more precise framework for comprehending and unlocking the full range of the instrument. By drawing insights from music theory, music education, cognitive science, neuroscience, and technology this approach is achieved by synthesizing research on visual pattern recognition, …

Mindreading And Embodiment: Beyond Mirror Neurons., Sanad Al Khatib

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

This paper examines the question: how do we figure out what other people are thinking and why they act as they do, or put differently, how is it that we can read minds in daily life? For decades, the dominant view held that we explain and predict other people’s behavior by attributing to them mental states such as beliefs, desires, and intentions, represented symbolically in the brain. The embodied simulation model challenges this view, proposing that understanding others primarily relies on mirror neurons that activate both when we perform an action and when we observe someone else performing it. This …

Ontogenetic Analysis Of Parasaurolophus Braincases (Ornithischia, Hadrosauridae) From The Kaiparowits Formation (Upper Cretaceous) Of Utah, Usa: Comparing Juvenile And Adult Morphology, Amanda "Billie" C. Guerrero

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study documents the ontogenetic development of the braincase in Parasaurolophus, a lambeosaurine hadrosaurid dinosaur known for its distinctive cranial crest. Whereas the crest has been extensively examined for its roles in communication and display, the braincase remains less understood, despite its structural and functional relationship with the crest. This research compares the braincase morphology of a juvenile specimen (RAM 14000, "Baby Joe"), a subadult specimen (RAM 17000), and an adult P. tubicen (NMMNH P-25100), to investigate how developmental changes influenced sensory systems, neurocranial architecture, and biomechanical adaptations across ontogeny.

Detailed morphological analysis reveals progressive changes from juvenile to …

Capsinoids, Non-Pungent Trpv1 Agonists, Induce A Mild Hypothermia That Provides Short- And Long-Term Neuroprotection After Ischemic Stroke, Alexander Andersohn, Alexander Andersohn

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) has demonstrated neuroprotection in instances of cardiac arrest and neonatal hypoxia/ischemia but faces different challenges in application to stroke due to the activation of cold defense mechanisms in conscious patients. This dissertation examines the efficacy and specificity of capsinoids (a purified mixture of capsiate and dihydrocapsiate) to induce a sustained mild hypothermia in conscious mice that is neuroprotective after stroke. Capsinoids function as TRPV1 agonists. However, unlike capsaicin, capsinoids are vulnerable to esterase-mediated breakdown, thus significantly restricting their action to the site of delivery. We showed that capsinoids delivered intraperitoneally (IP) to mice induced a TRPV1-dependent drop …

Neural Dynamics Supporting Flexible Cognition, Meredith J. Mccarty

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Flexible cognition enables humans to adapt their behavior to changing circumstances by prioritizing relevant information and filtering out distractions. This process is thought to be supported by the integration of ongoing behavioral goals with incoming sensory information, but how this integration is realized in the human brain remains unclear. It is unknown how high-order sensory cortices can balance specialized processing with flexible integration of changing behavioral goals. In the following investigations, we use intracranial EEG (iEEG) recordings in humans to study the neural dynamics of flexible cognition during high-order sensory processing. First, we validated assumptions about the locality of iEEG …

Improved Model For Neurodegeneration In C. Elegans, Jean-Pierre Arditi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

During Alzheimer's disease (AD), insoluble amyloid beta (AP) peptides accumulate to form extracellular aggregates (plaques). The direct cause of neuronal dysfunction observed in AD has been broadly investigated. The amyloid hypothesis states that AP plaques are neurotoxic, but recent studies support the AP oligomer hypothesis, which states that intracellular AP (iAP) is neurotoxic. To test this hypothesis, I used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to generate two transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) strains. I generated a strain (RSLl 11) using the rab-3 promoter to co-express GFP in neurons, which showed no gross behavioral changes but had a 50% reduced egglaying rate. RSLl …

Gpu-Based Electromagnetic Microwave Tomography For Brain Imaging And Stroke Detection, Pablo Sotelo Torres

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Each year, an estimated 795,000 people in the U.S. suffer a stroke, with approximately 610,000 being first-time cases. Of these, 87% are ischemic strokes, while the remaining 13% are hemorrhagic. Current imaging methods, such as Computed Tomography (CT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), provide useful information into brain tissue properties; while each technique has its advantages, they remain expensive, non-portable, and often too slow for emergency bedside or in-ambulance use. Electromagnetic Microwave Tomography (EMT) offers a promising alternative: an affordable, portable, rapid, and safe method for stroke detection. By contrasting dielectric properties between healthy and affected …

Integration And Modulation Of Visual Signals In Dorsal Thalamus., James Whitley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The visual thalamus is influenced by a diverse array of cortical and subcortical inputs that shape how information is transmitted to cortex. Using a variety of anatomical, optogenetic, and in vitro physiological techniques I investigated the differential impacts of modulation and integration of first and higher-order thalamic nuclei, while relying on influential concepts on the general organization of thalamic nuclei. In the first data chapter, I determined how GABAergic pretectum (PT) projections to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) and visual thalamic reticular nucleus (vTRN) can influence retinogeniculate signal transfer. We found that the PT provides over 75% of the …

Sensory And Motor Tectothalamic Circuits: Two Sides Of The Same Coin., Nazratan Naeem

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Integration of sensorimotor information in the visual system has always been an intriguing topic to scientists, yet the subcortical sensory and motor circuits that are essential components of this process have remained elusive. In these studies, we used a blend of classical and contemporary techniques such as viral tracing, immunohistochemistry, optogenetics in-vitro whole cell electrophysiology, and electron microscopy in mice to characterize sensory and motor circuits of the superior colliculus (SC), a conserved visuomotor structure with connections with a wide variety of brain structures, including the thalamus. We focused on two SC cell types: visually responsive widefield vertical (WFV) cells …

Generating Predictive Gene Expression Signatures For Alzheimer's Disease Using Postmortem Brain Tissue, Ashley Duche

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Background: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and tau protein aggregates. These pathological features develop in specific brain regions, but why some areas are more vulnerable to early AD-related changes remains unclear. To address this, predictive gene expression signatures were developed to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying regional susceptibility to AD pathology.

Methods: This was performed using postmortem brain (PMB) tissue from participants in the Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project (ROSMAP), Mayo Clinic, and Mount Sinai Brain Bank (MSBB) to generate gene expression signatures from six brain …

Enduring Efffects Of Juvenile Fluoxetine Exposure On Serotonin Transporter Expression Within The Hippocampus And Prefrontal Cortex Of Male C57bl/6 Mice, Daniel Eduardo Calvo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Prescription rates of fluoxetine, the most dispensed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, have been rising among the juvenile population. Since adolescence is a critical developmental period in which the brain undergoes pruning, chronic increases in serotonin levels may lead to long-term neurobiological changes in brain regions responsible for emotional regulation. Thus, using mice as a model system, this thesis evaluated how adolescent fluoxetine exposure (AFE) influences the expression of serotonin transporters (SERT) in the adult hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. To do this, postnatal day (PD)-35 male C57BL/6 mice were administered with fluoxetine (250 mg/l in their drinking water) for 15 consecutive …

Renewal Of The Mind: Forgiveness Through The Lens Of Christian Faith And Neuroscience, Khelen Walsh

University Honors Theses

Within Christian theology, forgiveness is a foundational concept that is often understood as a divine command, a spiritual practice, and a path toward reconciliation and personal growth. Recent neuroscientific research further supports this viewpoint, providing data that shows forgiveness engages neural systems responsible for emotional regulation, empathy, moral reasoning, and perspective-taking. Through neuroplasticity, repeated acts of forgiveness reshape the brain, strengthen connections between prefrontal and limbic regions, reduce amygdala reactivity, and enhance emotional stability and cognitive flexibility. Although forgiveness offers many benefits, modern culture frequently distorts its meaning, framing it as a sign of weakness, gullibility, or a form of …

Dorsal/Ventral Orientation Of Dentate Granule Cells And Its Impact On Electrophysiology In Mice, Jacob Prince, Savannah Sampson, Alyssa Marron

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

The hippocampus has known roles in memory formation, learning, and spatial mapping. There are defined physiological differences between CA1 neurons based on their dorsal to ventral position within the 3D hippocampus (Malik et al., 2015). Given the varying functions of the dorsal and ventral hippocampus in cognitive processing and the role of the dentate gyrus as the entry point for information into the hippocampus, it will be interesting to determine if there are differences in the properties of granule cells across the dorsal and ventral axis. We explore the potential topographic specialization of dentate granule cells. This study examines the …

Design And Validation Of A Bilateral, Multi-Site 3d-Printed Neuronal Implant For Rodent Electrophysiology, Homero Phelps, Jonathan V. Trinidad, Talha Soluoku

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Neuronal electrophysiology implants are essential tools in neuroscience for recording brain activity and investigating neurological disorders. Our lab’s previous 3D-printed implant designs centered around a single-site, recording platform that was limited in adaptability, precision, and lacked in vivo validation due to lingering engineering malfunctions. To combat limitations and expand recording capabilities, this project aimed to design and validate a new implant capable of multi-site, bilateral recordings across both brain hemispheres, specifically targeting the hippocampus (CA1 and CA3) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), regions critical for learning and memory. Building on the Open Ephys ShuttleDrive model, the implant was redesigned using …

Effect Of Neuroinflammation On Exploratory Behavior In Mice, Gage Pompa, Ariana Mitic, Yader Gomez, Lilian Hagos, Orlando Montiel

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Introduction: Mice have been observed in both laboratory and field settings to exhibit a tendency to remain near corners and walls. This trait is known as positive thigmotaxis. Thigmotaxis has been recognized as a fundamental aspect of rodent behavior and used extensively as an anxiety index in mice. Although this characteristic has been recognized as a fundamental aspect of rodent behavior, thigmotaxis has been extensively studied in rectangular and circular environments. However, there is a notable lack of understanding of how alternative geometric configurations can influence this behavior.

Methods and Approach: Using a grid overlaid on the environment the mice …

Introducing Neuro Social Work: A Brief Reflection On Neuroscience And The Profession, Priscila Llamosa

Social Work Faculty Publications

Neuroscience offers language and evidence that can strengthen interdisciplinary communication, support advocacy in biomedically dominated settings, and validate relational practices long recognized in social work, including the impacts of early adversity, attachment, and healing through connection. At the same time, an epistemological tension underlies the profession’s unease with neuroscience when brain-based narratives are used to individualize structural harm or justify surveillance of marginalized families and communities. This teaching note introduces Neuro Social Work as a justice-oriented specialization that integrates contemporary neuroscience with social work’s person-in-environment commitments, relational practice traditions, and anti-oppressive ethics.The author argues that the key question is no …

Cv: Philip Blankenship (Behavioral Neuroscience), Philip Blankenship

Psychology Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Developmental Effects On Zebrafish Embryos Exposed To Alcohol, Tamya Mchaney

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Zebrafish are a good organism model due to their similarities with human biology. The transparency of their embryos allows for an easier view to see the developmental stages of the embryos, and easily and accurately note any mutations or defects in any of the embryos. In addition, they make excellent candidates to track potential effects that mirror human embryos with ethanol and alcohol will have on their developmental stages. The aim of this study was to measure the genetic size developmental differences of the embryo’s lens, eyes, and heart that are given 1% alcohol and 2% alcohol. This study’s experimental …