Theses and Dissertations
This collection includes both ASU Theses and Dissertations, submitted by graduate students, and the Barrett, Honors College theses submitted by undergraduate students.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3
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- All Subjects: Neuroscience
- Creators: Glenberg, Arthur
Description
The aim of this study was to determine whether IUD administration, with and without the presence of Levo, and with and without the presence of the ovaries, impacts cognition in a rat model. Rats received either Sham or Ovariectomy (Ovx) surgery (removal of the ovaries), plus either no IUD, a Blank IUD (without Levo), or a Levo-releasing IUD (Levo IUD), enabling us to evaluate the effects of Ovx and the effects of IUD administration on cognition. Two weeks after surgery, all treatment groups were tested on the water radial arm maze, Morris water maze, and visible platform task to evaluate cognition. At sacrifice, upon investigation of the uteri, it was determined that some of the IUDs were no longer present in animals from these groups: Sham\u2014Blank IUD, Ovx\u2014Blank IUD, and Sham\u2014Levo IUD. Results from the remaining three groups showed that compared to Sham animals with no IUDs, Ovx animals with no IUDs had marginally impaired working memory performance, and that Ovx animals with Levo IUDs as compared to Ovx animals with no IUDs had marginally enhanced memory performance, not specific to a particular memory type. Results also showed that Ovx animals with Levo IUDs had qualitatively more cells in their vaginal smears and increased uterine horn weight compared to Ovx animals with no IUDs, suggesting local stimulation of the Levo IUDs to the uterine horns. Overall, these results provide alternative evidence to the hypothesis that the Levo IUD administers Levo in solely a localized manner, and suggests that the possibility for the Levo IUD to affect reproductive cyclicity in ovary-intact animals is not rejected. The potential for the Levo IUD to exert effects on cognition suggests that either the hormone does in fact systemically circulate, or that the Levo IUD administration affects cognition by altering an as yet undetermined hormonal or other feedback between the uterus and the brain.
ContributorsStrouse, Isabel Martha (Author) / Bimonte-Nelson, Heather (Thesis director) / Glenberg, Arthur (Committee member) / Sirianni, Rachael (Committee member) / Conrad, Cheryl (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
Description
Architecture has an ability to shape us and focus on forms and efficiency yet frequently ignores relationships between the form and cognition. This negligence creates lost opportunities for creating a link between action and perception, embodiment and aesthetics, imagination and empathy. Architecture is frequently not empathetic, lacking meaning to far too many people. Considering the application of neuroscience in architecture to nurture psychological and physiological response to architecture may be key to fostering healthy and positive relationships with space. Another connection that comes up in neuro-scientific research is how creativity plays into design and the understanding of design. Often, creativity is accompanied by metaphor, and neuroscientist Ramachandran is particularly interested in this. A curious phenomenon he has focused on is synaesthesia, Synaesthesia is a Greek-based word, syn meaning joined and aisthesis meaning sensation. It occurs when "Stimulation of one sensory modality automatically triggers perception in a second modality in the absence of any direct stimulation to this modality." Further, the study and application of synaesthetic properties can help achieve this goal. Through the application of neuro-scientific research directed towards architecture, "Neuroarchitecture" is a possible tool that can create architecture that invokes positive responses in occupants. Through the consideration of building elements, natural forces, equal understanding, and synaesthesia, "neuroarchitecture" can be successful. Thus, with the consideration of neuroscience and synaesthesia there is a possibility of understanding what creates the certain emotions that one experiences in a space, and why people like certain places more than others. In a lecture covering this topic at Arizona State University's Design School, designer Ellen Lupton showed graphic visualizations of musical synaesthesia. Bird calls were translated into exceptionally fluid ribbons of moving color that ebbed and crashed with the rise and fall of the bird call. If these experiences can be expressed through digital art, then there may be a way to express them through architecture. The project takes focus on the architecture of flux, limbo, and threshold, within the specific context of the airport. The airport is a one of a kind architecture. There is little to no other architecture that serves as a threshold from one city, state, and country to another, that is full of people from all parts of the world, and is a space of limbo. In the flux of the airport, the individual feels a multitude of emotions, joys, sadness, frustration, and stresses. Studying circulation, movement of both the inhabitant and the architecture of the airport, the project will rigorously question if architecture can be scientifically formulated to create mental effects or if they are a result of atmospheric qualities.
ContributorsPniak, Nikola (Author) / Rocchi, Elena (Thesis director) / Taylor, Christopher (Committee member) / Hejduk, Renata (Committee member) / The Design School (Contributor) / School of International Letters and Cultures (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
Description
Polysubstance abuse is far more common than single substance abuse. One of the most widely abused, yet greatly understudied combination of drugs is the simultaneous use of methamphetamine (meth) and alcohol. Because little research has been conducted on the co-abuse of meth and alcohol, it is important to study the behavioral and neural mechanisms underlying the use of both to combat addiction and come closer to finding an effective treatment of this form of drug abuse. This study uses a rodent model to attempt to identify the mechanisms underlying this co-abuse through the stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) and thus the activation of the mesocorticolimbic pathway, the brain's pleasure circuit. First, self-stimulation thresholds (the lowest electrical current the rats are willing to respond for) were determined using a process called Discrete Trials Training. This threshold was later used as a baseline measure to reference when the rats were administered the drugs of abuse: meth and alcohol, both alone and in combination. Our overall results did not show any significant effects of combining alcohol and meth relative to the effects of either drug alone, although subject attrition may have resulted in sample sizes that were statistically underpowered. The results of this and future studies will help provide a clearer understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the polyabuse of meth and alcohol and can potentially lead to more successfully combating and treating this addiction.
ContributorsDrafton, Kaitlyn Marie (Author) / Olive, Foster (Thesis director) / Glenberg, Arthur (Committee member) / Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-12