May 18, 2017 - Sienna Randolph - Neuro Science Research at U of L Sienna recently graduated with a BSc in Neuroscience and is now pursuing her Master's degree under the supervision of Dr. Aaron Gruber. Her research investigates common drugs of abuse such as amphetamine and fentanyl, and their effects on decision making. To accomplish this, she works with the exciting combination of rats, genetic engineering, and lasers. Sienna described how they place a tiny fibre cable into the dopamine area of a rat's brain and then illuminate that area with laser light. The rat's dopamine chemicals have been treated to luminesce a different colour when illuminated. That light then goes back up the fibre to be detected whenever the rat feels pleasured. Then they put the rat in a Skinner type box and play a two-part version of rock paper scissors, except that a computer plays the game based on the rat's past choice preferences. They do this with rats on fentanyl and rats that are not drugged up to see how drugs affect their pleasure seeking. Fascinating! |
The Alberta Government's Community Initiatives Program has approved a $15,000 grant to support the 2017 Los Amigos Project.
