Dr. Karen Anderson’s Laboratory
Variables Affecting Decision Making: Many of the problem behaviors in society, such as drug abuse, obesity, and pathological gambling, involve poor decision-making. One of the objectives of Dr. Anderson’s research is to identify determinants of choice, particularly when that choice is deemed risky (choosing a larger, but uncertain reward over a smaller, but certain one; probability discounting). Another objective is to assess effects of drugs (commonly use/abused or therapeutic) on these impulsive or risky choices in our animal models. REU participants will be involved in research projects that extend the ongoing line of investigation into determinants of risky choice and effects of drugs on that choice in rodent models. They will also be involved in investigating the extent to which adaptogenic mushrooms, e.g., cordyceps, may substitute for caffeine in a drug-discrimination procedure. REU participants will gain technical laboratory skills related to rat handling and husbandry, administration of drugs (e.g., caffeine), and graphical/statistical analysis of resulting behavioral data. REU participants will also develop a deeper understanding of experimental design and behavioral pharmacology/neuroscience when analyzing effects of drugs and other variables on behavior and by attending weekly lab meetings.
