Graduate Studies Faculty
Suzanne Mitchell
Programs:
Behavioral NeurocienceResearch Interests:
Impulsivity Risk taking Learning Cognition Decision making Drug abusePreceptor Rotations
Academic Term Available Summer 2009 No Fall 2010 Yes Winter 2010 Yes Fall 2009 Yes Summer 2010 No Spring 2010 MaybeFaculty Mentorship
Dr. Mitchell is not available as a mentor for 2010-2011. Dr. Mitchell is available as a mentor for 2009-2010.Profile
Individuals who have a history of drug use are more impulsive than individuals who do not have such a history. My research examines whether this difference existed prior to drug use, or is a consequence of the neuroadaptations due to drug use. To address these questions, we work with human, rat and mouse subjects. For example, we examine whether different genotypes are associated with impulsive behavior by comparing impulsivity in drug-naïve selected lines and inbred strains of mice and rats. Also we examine whether different levels of impulsivity predict responses the first time mice and rats are exposed to drugs of abuse, like alcohol, nicotine and methamphetamine. Measures of impulsivity in human subjects are used to examine whether acute exposure to drugs of abuse or withdrawal form use results in changes in behavior. In addition, my research examines the basic neural processes involved in decision making, including impulsive and risky decision making, using lesion techniques and imaging.
