Sometimes, opportunities are available in the summer. While a strong academic record in the core areas of psychology is desirable, enthusiasm, motivation, dedication, and reliability are probably the most important qualifications for students who have not yet taken all of the core psychology courses. Behavioral pharmacological techniques are employed in order to characterize the effects of dopamine, acetylcholine and serotonin agonists and antagonists on the operant behavior of rats. The student will be engaged in every aspect of one or more experiments. Academic enthusiasm, dedication, responsibility, and motivation are regarded as the primary attributes needed to complete internships.
Research focuses on understanding the pathobiology of traumatic brain injury.
Neurotransmitter systems that are presently being examined include the cholinergic, glutamate, and GABA systems. By using selective receptor agonists and antagonists of these receptor systems, we are attempting to understand the role these receptor systems play in the pathobiology of traumatic brain injury. The research methodology employed in these studies is behavioral pharmacology in nature with an emphasis in the assessment of motor and cognitive function. The long-term goal of this research is to develop and test the therapeutic efficacy of experimental drugs in treating the disabilities that follow traumatic brain injury. The person must also handle rats or mice.