My project
deals with the effect of varying levels of copper on extinction of learned fear
and motor coordination in rats. Behavioral measures will include fear
conditioning and extinction in extinction chambers, as well as the accelerating
rotarod task which assesses locomotor coordination. The metal content in the
brains will be measured with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
instrument (ICP-MS). This instrument measures trace metal content in the brain.
The goal of this project is to examine the effect of long-term exposure to
varying
I became
interested in this project after I started a Research Assistant position in Dr.
Flinn’s psychology lab. My main interest of study is physiological psychology,
and I knew that I wanted to conduct research in this field at some capacity. I
never thought I would be able to do so with a project of my own so early in my
college career, so I am appreciative of this opportunity! My future goals
include a continuation in the research field of behavioral neuroscience in
graduate school.
On a
weekly basis, I take part in a strict handling schedule so the rats are exposed
to human touch regularly before behavioral testing. Food is measured and
weighed based on their distributed experimental diets to monitor intake. This
week, I became more familiar with the Cryostat machine which cuts brain tissue
to be mounted on histological slides. The product slides will be used in the
ICP-MS to identify trace amounts of metals found in the brains.
