Web Bio

My research focuses on basic principles of learning and behavior using laboratory animals (i.e., rats and pigeons) as subjects. Much of this research focuses on behavioral momentum, choice, and conditioned reinforcement. In addition, some of my research is directed at understanding the contribution of basic behavioral processes to drug abuse. One line of research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health is directed at extending quantitative theories of simple operant behavior (e.g., the matching law, behavioral momentum) to the allocation and persistence of attention in animal models (e.g., observing responses, divided attention task). So far, we have found that quantitative theories of operant behavior do a good job of describing the allocation and persistence of attending. This work also has theoretical implications for our understanding of conditioned reinforcement. A second line of research funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism examines the contribution of basic behavioral processes to drug taking using an alcohol self-administration procedure with rats. Previous work developed the observing-response procedure for use as an animal model of attending to drug cues. Current research focuses on using behavioral momentum theory to predict the impact of drug cues on the persistence of drug seeking. We have also developed a novel animal model of drug relapse in which loss of a non-drug reinforcer produces resurgence of alcohol seeking. We have recently extended these studies to intravenous cocaine self-administration. Finally, a third line of research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health examines a novel quantitative theory of discrimination learning based on changes in attending to stimuli as described by a modified version of behavioral momentum theory. This project is in collaboration with Drs. Nevin (University of New Hampshire) and Odum (USU).

Graduate students working in my lab receive full research assistantships for at least their first two years. Recent students in the lab have published extensively based on their collaborations on the projects above and as a result of student-initiated projects. I work closely with my students and consider them collaborators and junior colleagues. My goal is to provide students with the skills and credentials needed to pursue research intensive academic careers.