Department of Psychology and Program of Neurobiology & Behavior

University of Washington

Our research investigates the neural basis of conditioning, motivation and appetite with particular emphasis on taste aversion learning, dopamine systems, and decision making. In order to facilitate our investigations, we rely on a variety of techniques such as:

1. -in situ hybridization and catFISH
   

2. -multi-unit recording in awake and behaving animals
   

3. -electrolytic and excitotoxic brain lesions
   

4. -testing of transgenic (knockout) mice
   

5. -immunohistochemistry (IHC)
   

as well as behavioral techniques/models including:

1. -conditioned taste aversion (CTA) learning
   

2. -conditioned place preference
   

3. -automated activity chambers
   

4. -operant conditioning/ lever pressing