| Welcome
to the Website for UE's Programs in ...
The Cognitive and Neural
Sciences
Laboratories and Projects
The CNS programs at the University of
Evansville currently support two laboratories, one for neuroscience
and another for cognitive psychology, along with a research project in
cognitive technology:
The Behavioral Neuroscience
Laboratory
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In addition to providing lab space to
supplement courses in learning and neuroscience, the Behavioral
Neuroscience Laboratory (pictured on the top of the CNS
homepage)
provides an environment where student and
faculty researchers study
the effect of phytoestrogens on the behavior of developing rats.
Phytoestrogens are plant-derived estrogens present in a variety of
plant products. Isoflavones are the most common phytoestrogens as they
can be found in alfalfa and red clover as well as in soy beans
and plants used in fermenting beverages such as beer, red wine and
bourbon. |
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Specific isoflavones; genistein and diadzein, are very
similar in structure to human steroidal estrogen. These isoflavones
have protective effects against specific types of breast and colon
cancer in women who are postmenopausal. Because estrogens can affect
various aspects of sex-specific development, wide-spread availability
of phytoestrogens in food and as supplements aimed at women,
phytoestrogens consumed by the mother during pregnancy and lactation
could alter development of a fetal or newborn mammal. The current lab
research studies the behavior of the newborn and pre/post adolescent
rat to examine effects of phytoestrogens during early periods of
sex-specific development.
Grants
Burns, L., Pleen, J.,
& Becker, L. A. (2004). The effects of prenatal phytoestrogen
exposure in rats on social behaviors as exhibited by the ultrasonic
vocalizations of rats. UExplore Undergraduate Research Grant,
University
of
Evansville, $1672.
Ball, E., & Becker,
L. A. (2003). The effects of phytoestrogens
on the brain development of male rats. UExplore Undergraduate Research
Grant, University
of
Evansville, $4758.
Brown, M., &
Becker, L. A. (2003). The effects of prenatal phytoestrogen exposure
in rats on social behaviors. UExplore Undergraduate Research Grant, University
of
Evansville, $526.
Harmon, A., & Becker, L. A. (2002). Hormonal
and behavioral investigation of fetal and neonatal exposure to
phytoestrogens in rats. UExplore Undergraduate Research Grant, University
of
Evansville.
Becker, L. A. (2002).
Histological,
neuroendocrine, and behavioral investigation of fetal and neonatal
exposure to phytoestrogens in rats. Alumni Research and Scholarly
Activity Fellowship,
University
of
Evansville, $1970.
Odle, R., & Becker, L. A. (2002). Identification
of phytoestrogens in rat chow using liquid chromatography. Advantage
Undergraduate Research Grant, University
of
Evansville, $500.
Becker, L. A. (2000).
Do natural estrogens disrupt development? A behavioral investigation
of phytoestrogens effects after neonatal and pubescent exposure in
Sprague Dawley rats. Alumni
Research and Scholarly Activity Fellowship, University
of
Evansville,
$1702.
Johnson, J. & Becker, L. A. (2000). How
phytoestrogens effect male reproductive ability: Sperm count and
testosterone levels. Advantage Undergraduate Research Grant, University
of
Evansville, $3227.
Johnson, J. & Becker, L. A. (2000). Investigation
of phytoestrogen effects in the developing male animal. Advantage
Undergraduate Research Grant, University
of
Evansville, $500.
Petty, M., &
Becker, L. A. (2000). The development of nociceptive properties in GABAA
receptors: A peripheral model of induced TMJ pain in rats. Advantage
Undergraduate Research Grant, University
of
Evansville, $452.
Petty, M., & Becker, L. A. (2000).
Antinociceptive properties of the GABAA receptor: Central
modulation of induced TMJ pain in rats. Advantage Undergraduate
Research Grant,University
of
Evansville, $3468.
Report
Becker,
L. A., Kunkel, A. J., Brown, M., Ball, E. E, Williams, M. T. (2005).
Effects of dietary phytoestrogen exposure during perinatal period.
Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 27(6) 825 - 834.
Research
Assistants
Current: Luke
Boyer, Kaley Parker, Stephanie Pemberton, Alex Ramsey and Penny
Stewart.
Past: Erin
Ball, Michelle Brown, Lindsey Burns, Paul Gadient, Jessica Johnson, Nick Jones, Aaron Kunkle,
Bryanna
Lawler, Joseph Pleen, Megan Snyder,
and Josh Yeager.
Three student researchers from the
Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory have graduated to do research in
the pharmaceutical industry or some other aspect of research in
medicine. Three have gone on to medical school at places like The Ohio
State University, The University of Kentucky, and Indiana University.
Three have entered graduate school to study neuropsychology or attain
certification in a related field.
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