Suzanne Mitchell, Ph.D.

Contact

mitchesu@ohsu.edu; Phone: 503 494 1650; Fax: 503-494-6877; Office: MRB 716; Mail Code: L470

Research Interests

Impulsivity, Risk taking, Learning, Cognition, Decision making, Drug abuse 

Preceptor Rotation Availability

Summer 2012 - No
Fall 2012 - Yes
Winter 2013 - Yes
Spring 2013 - Yes
Summer 2013 - No

Mentorship Availability

Dr. Mitchell might be available for mentorship for the 2012/13 academic year.  Please contact her directly to inquire.

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.