K-State Department of Psychology Research:

Behavioral Neuroscience/Animal Learning Behavioral Neuroscience

Dr. Stephen Kiefer's on-going investigations currently involve alcohol research using rodent models (rats and mice). Specifically, the lab is interested in the taste of alcohol as it is believed that taste is an important factor in determining ultimate use (and abuse) of this drug. Given that alcohol is normally only introduced to the body through oral consumption, taste would occupy a pivotal role in decisions about accepting or rejecting this substance. The most current project examines the role of the opiate system in modulating the taste of alcohol. Research has shown conclusively that antagonism of the opiate system via a drug (naltrexone) renders the taste of alcohol solutions more aversive -- rats find the taste to be relatively unpalatable. Additionally, naltrexone decreases alcohol consumption during restricted access tests. A drug that can make alcohol taste bad has the potential as a deterrent for alcohol consumption. Future research plans include an examination of specific brain regions where endogenous opiates produce their effects on alcohol taste and consumption.

Dr. Stephen Kiefer has additional information concerning this research.

Dr. Mary Cain's research interests also include the neurobiological basis of drug abuse using a rodent model. One area of research investigates the neural structures that contribute to elevated drug use caused by genetic or environmental factors. A second research area explores the effects of Pavlovian fear conditioning on drug taking behavior in rats. Methods used in the laboratory include locomotor activity, self-administration, and brain microinfusions. Both research areas are attempting to determine the neuronal structures that contribute to drug taking behavior in order to develop methods to decrease drug use using both behavioral and neurological techniques.

Dr. Mary Cain (785)532-6884 has additional information concerning this research.

Dr. Palmatier's lab studies the reinforcing effects of abused drugs and how they contribute to addiction. Specifically, the lab is interested in nicotine, and how a mild euphoric and intoxicant drug (nicotine) could be responsible for a robust behavior and dependence syndrome (smoking). Given that nicotine is normally self-administered in the context of many other stimuli (taste/smell of smoke, specific peer groups, other drugs such as alcohol) our research has focused on the contribution of non-nicotine stimuli to self-administration of the drug in rats. In doing so, we found that there is a secondary spectrum of effects engendered by nicotine; it has the ability to drastically change the valence of other rewards. In other words, nicotine can make other reinforcing things (peers, taste/smell of smoke, effects of alcohol, etc.) more rewarding or gratifying. The most current project examines this effect of nicotine as a psychometric function of reward valence. That is, in order for nicotine to make something else better, the something else has to be evaluated as 'good' (reinforcing). We are trying to understand two things about the non-nicotine rewards: 1) How good is good enough (to be enhanced by nicotine)? and 2) Is there such a thing as too good? Presumably this secondary effect of nicotine has limits, understanding what those limits are will help us to understand how nicotine changes the 'natural' smoking environment and may help us to develop better behavioral and pharmacological strategies for people who want to quit smoking. For example, future studies will begin to build on a recent finding that one of the best pharmacological smoking cessation aides, bupropion (Zyban (R)), also enhances the valence of other rewards. We will begin to evaluate whether this effect of bupropion is replacing a critical aspect of smoking and whether future cessation aides will be more effective if they have comparable reward-enhancing effects.

Dr. Matthew Palmatier has additional information concerning this research.

Animal Learning and Behavior

Dr. Jerome Frieman's research interests include Pavlovian conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning in hamsters and rats. Recent research has focused on social learning in dwarf hamsters (Phodopus campbelli) and golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), operant conditioning in dwarf hamsters, kin recognition in dwarf hamsters, and Pavlovian conditioning in rats.

Dr. Jerome Frieman has additional information concerning this research.

Dr. Kimberly Kirkpatrick’s comparative cognition lab conducts research using pigeons, rats, and people. The rat timing laboratory is currently conducting investigations on the role of timing processes in temporal discounting choice procedures. The current investigations are striving to uncover the psychological and neurobiological mechanisms involved in choosing between a smaller more immediate outcome versus a delayed and more valuable outcome. The research is particularly relevant to understanding impulsive choices that are associated with drug addiction, ADHD, and impulsive personality disorder. As research in this area unfolds over time, multiple levels of analysis will be used including behavioral, computational, neurobiological, and translational approaches. The pigeon visual cognition laboratory is dedicated to the study of visual perception and visual cognition in pigeons, with some emphasis on comparative research with human subjects. Recent projects have been examining motion perception in both pigeons and people, and in examining the role of basic Gestalt principles such as good continuation in contributing to visual perception in the pigeon.

Dr. Kimberly Kirkpatrick has additional information concerning this research.