Research

Research Opportunities in my Lab

My lab examines learning and behavior in earthworms. Past research suggests that they are capable of both Pavlovian and instrumental learning; with the help of some dedicated students I am currently studying instrumental behavior (escape and avoidance).  Pavlovian learning will come eventually.

Most recently I’ve been developing shuttle boxes for the earthworms, here seen end-on in a temperature-controlled chamber.

In the past we used locomotor responses in a running wheel as our behavioral measure:

(24 hrs in 1 min – Lumbricus terrestris)

(6 hrs of video collapsed into 1 min – Eisenia hortensis)

(Earthworms respond to light)

Our paper on escape and avoidance behavior in Eisenia hortensis is available here: peerj.com/articles/250/

Paper describing the earthworm running wheel is here: www.funjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/june-14-r25.pdf

Paper on using earthworms for measuring speed of action potential is here: advan.physiology.org/content/38/1/62.full.pdf

Selected posters can be viewed here:

• Earthworms in behavioral neuroscience (SfN 2010)
• Automated detection of movement and location (Pavlovian 2012)
• The Annelidometer: Automated monitoring of an earthworm’s position and movement (SfN 2012)
• Running Wheel Escape Learning in the Earthworm (Pavlovian 2013)
• MK-801 effect on escape behavior (Pavlovian 2014)
• Earthworm running wheel (SfN 2015)

I’m also beginning to examine tardigrades. Here are some videos of these fascinating animals:

Current students:

• Haley McQuown
• Alexandra (Kiwi) Balcoff
• Hunter Penrod
• Kaitlyn Darling
• Victoria Art

Alums:

• Griselda Iñiguez
• Marlo Scholten
• Bailee McGraw
• Molly Bentley
• Samantha Ely
• Kate Sears
• Brandon Johnson
• Megan Wickens
• Ashley Glenn
• Emily Morlock
• Holly Paxton
• Melissa Baguzis
• Elizabeth Renaud
• Nicole Ferrara
• Amanda Blaker
• Charisa Giddings
• Cindy Fast
• Megan Anderson
• David Goodyear
• Christina Busuito
• Amber Chenoweth
• Heaher Linz
• Melanie King
• Julia Ogg

I spent many years studying emotional and learned behavior in rats, resulting in many papers and presentations that can be seen on my vita.

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Students who are interested in gaining research experience and might want to work with earthworms should contact me.  To be seriously considered as a research partner, you should have completed PSY 101, BIO 195, and PSY/NEUR 241 (or at least one other Psychology Course from our List 2).  If you are planning to attend graduate school in neuroscience, animal learning, or a related field, have good grades, and can provide a strong recommendation from another faculty member (if I do not know you well), you will receive first consideration.  Space is limited.