Behavioral Neuroscience

The common goal of all faculty affiliated with this area is to advance understanding of the biological basis of behavior and cognition. In pursuit of this objective we use a wide variety of methods including, animal lesion models, experimental analysis of animal behavior, in vivo and in vitro neurochemical and electrophysiological measures, and psychopharmacological interventions. Select topics of interest include the neurophysiology of drug and alcohol addiction, neural substrates of spatial and non-spatial memory, executive function and motivation. Students accepted into the Experimental Psychology Program are trained in Behavioral Neuroscience. The primary goal of our training program is to prepare graduate students to function in a research-oriented academic environment. Students must complete courses in neuropsychology and psychopharmacology, along with those required by the Experimental Psychology Program. Furthermore it is expected that all students will begin assisting in ongoing research project during the first year while developing individual research projects in conjunction with their mentor.

 Required Courses  

Faculty
(Primary Affiliates)
Charles D. Blaha, Ph.D.
Melloni N. Cook, Ph.D.
Guy Mittleman, Ph.D.