Randall Beck and Michael J. Larson, Psychology and Neuroscience Introduction Polymorphisms in the GR gene are an interesting and important area of research as these polymorphisms may be associated with an attenuated ability to cope with stress. This project bridged an unexplored gap between cellular and environmental stress and the expression of the GR gene—specifically […]
Search Results for: receptor
Rhesus Macaque Scar Tissue as it Relates to Aggression Rates and the Oxytocin Receptor Gene
Riley Barrington and Dee Higley, Psychology This research project originally started out with the purpose of correlating aggression rates in rhesus macaque monkeys with the level and type of oxytocin receptor that that monkey possessed. Blood samples were to be taken, level of scarring and wounds analyzed, and observations done to predict their average level […]
Effects of Chronic Ethanol on GABA(A) Receptors in the VTA
Ashley Nelson and Dr. Scot Steffensen, Psychology Introduction The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attributes approximately 80,000 deaths annually to excessive alcohol use (CDC), and alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States (Mokdad et al., 2004). These statistics do not even describe the detrimental effects alcohol addiction […]
The Role of α6 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors on Dopamine Release
Michaela Squire and Dr. Scott Steffensen, Psychology Introduction With today’s society’s alcohol abuse, there has been a large economic burden of several hundred billion dollars annually. In addition, 80% of those who are dependent on alcohol are also smokers, and the use of nicotine has remained relatively high in those who use alcohol, displaying the […]
Engineering a Pathogen Specific High Affinity T-Cell Receptor Called LLO56
John Hancock and Dr. Scott Weber, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology Introduction CD4+ helper T-cells play a vital role in the body’s immune response. When infectious agents attack the body, phagocytes engulf these invaders and present a peptide segment of the pathogen on a receptor (called MHCII). These receptors are located on the surface […]
Ventral tegmental area dopamine and GABA neurons: Physiological properties and expression of mRNA for endocannabinoid biosynthetic enzymes and type I metabotropic glutamate receptors
Zachary Hopkins and Jeffrey G. Edwards, Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology Introduction The ventral tegmental area or VTA is considered to be one of the foremost centers involved in motivation and reward processing in the brain [1]. This area is also heavily implicated in addiction. However, little is known in regards to the exact […]
The Role of Endocannabinoid Receptor GPR55 on Learning and Memory
Bradley Prince and Jeffery Edwards, PDBIO Each year millions of people are affected by Alzheimer’s disease, one of the most common forms of dementia. Extensive research has shown that Alzheimer’s affects the hippocampus, the part of the brain principally responsible for learning and memory. The mechanisms responsible for learning and memory are just beginning to […]
Adaptation of D2 dopamine receptors following acute ethanol
Brian Behnke and Scott Steffensen, Psychology Project Purpose The purpose of my experiment was To study the effects that ethanol (EtOH) has on the D2 receptors (D2R) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA), in order to determine if D2 is a key contributor to an alcohol addictive state. Project Summary Through […]
Engineering Pathogen Specific High Affinity T-Cell Receptors Linked to Cytokines for Targeting of Antigen Presenting Cells
Bryce Anderson and Dr. Scott Weber, Microbiology & Molecular Biology In February last year I was awarded an ORCA grant which turned out to be the starting of one of my biggest learning experiences here at BYU. My research mentor, Dr. Weber, and I work with the immune system. This semester I have been able […]
Do GABA(A) Receptors switch for all Drug Dependence?: Examining the Dopamine-dependent Pathways of Alcohol Addiction
Catie Nielson and Dr. Scott Steffensen, Psychology Introduction The prevailing model for addiction proposes that neurotransmission of dopamine (DA) in the brain reward system is dysregulated, with enhanced levels during acute drug exposure and reduced levels during drug dependence and withdrawal. One emerging view is that during drug addiction, GABA(A) receptors switch the effect of […]
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