2 Colchester Avenue
Dewey 210B
Burlington, VT 05405-0134
United States
- B.A. Drexel University, 1990
- M.A. Temple University, 1996
- Ph.D. Temple University, 1998
Biobehavioral Psychology
BIO
My research interests are in the neurobiology of learning and memory. I am interested in both the neural and the psychological mechanisms underlying learned behaviors. My work uses rodent models, combined with Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning and behavioral neuroscience manipulations.
My lab has been collaborating with Professor Mark Bouton to examine the neural substrates of context-dependent learned behavior. Our work has been focused on the medial prefrontal cortex, especially the prelimbic cortex and infralimbic cortex. We have shown that the prelimbic cortex is especially important in the context in which something was first learned. That context can be the physical setting or an internal state, like hunger or stress. We have also been examining the role of other brain areas in context-dependent learning, including the hippocampus and the thalamus.
I welcome undergraduate research assistants (URAs), and can accommodate 3-4 at a time. Please reach out if interested. I do require that URAs have taken PSYS 2100 (Learning, Cognition & Behavior) prior to working in my lab. PSYS 2100 provides essential background information on Pavlovian (classical) and operant (instrumental) conditioning, which is important for the research I do.
Publications
Bio
My research interests are in the neurobiology of learning and memory. I am interested in both the neural and the psychological mechanisms underlying learned behaviors. My work uses rodent models, combined with Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning and behavioral neuroscience manipulations.
My lab has been collaborating with Professor Mark Bouton to examine the neural substrates of context-dependent learned behavior. Our work has been focused on the medial prefrontal cortex, especially the prelimbic cortex and infralimbic cortex. We have shown that the prelimbic cortex is especially important in the context in which something was first learned. That context can be the physical setting or an internal state, like hunger or stress. We have also been examining the role of other brain areas in context-dependent learning, including the hippocampus and the thalamus.
I welcome undergraduate research assistants (URAs), and can accommodate 3-4 at a time. Please reach out if interested. I do require that URAs have taken PSYS 2100 (Learning, Cognition & Behavior) prior to working in my lab. PSYS 2100 provides essential background information on Pavlovian (classical) and operant (instrumental) conditioning, which is important for the research I do.