Dr. Karen Anderson’s Laboratory

Variables impacting risky choice and stimulant-like properties of mushrooms

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 use rats to make comparisons between drugs to help categorize them based on their stimulus properties, i.e., drug discrimination. REU participants will be involved in research projects that extend the ongoing line of investigation into effects of win-paired stimuli on risk taking (the near-win phenomenon seen in gamblers). In addition, we will be looking at how response effort affects risk taking. Participants will also be involved in investigating shared stimulus properties of adaptogenic mushrooms (cordyceps and Lion’s mane) with caffeine. Many people consume mushroom teas and coffees, and report stimulant-like effects, but this has not been systematically evaluated in the lab with a rodent model. 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 by attending weekly lab meetings. They will also attend our summer book club where we will read B.F. Skinner’s “About Behaviorism.”

Subjects/Participants: The student(s) will work with Sprague-Dawley rats.

Requirements/restrictions: CITI training, clearance on the OHQ, and passing the background check.

Visit Dr. Anderson’s Website to learn more about Karen and her research. (http://www.andersonbpharmlab.com)