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Adam Steiner Entering Class - 2007 E-mail: stein704@umn.edu

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Undergraduate Institution and Major/Degree:

• Kansas State University B.S. General Physics

• Kansas State University B.S. Psychology

Major Advisor(s):

• David Redish

Research Description:

The dorso-lateral striatum (dlStr) integrates motor cortex/association cortex function with stereotypic behavior. Lesions to striatum result in complex movement disorders, stereotypic approach and cognitive deficits. Information received by the dlStr integrates this information into functional output to motor coordination centers contributing to the encoding of a habitual sequence. The dorso-medial striatum (dmStr) functions during error detection mechanism for habitual/sequential behavior. Changes to the sequential behavior, initiate a mechanism in the dmStr that adapt to the novel sequence. At the onset of a task, a certain function of the task initiates a set of instructions that include behavioral correlates instructing the animal how to perform the task. Once the sequence has been learned an information processing switch may occur shifting processing from the dmStr to the dlStr.

My research involves recording from these structures, the dmStr and dlStr, simultaneously during a task. The animal is trained on a 2T maze until the behavior stabilizes. A 14 tetrode array is implanted, 7 tetrodes in each structure. The animal is retrained on the task. As soon as a sufficient number of cells are present and the behavior is consistent, a series of novel sequences are introduced. The sequence involves a switch mid trial that the animal has never experienced. During the switch sequences I aim to analyze the difference in information processing between the dmStr and dlStr.

Lab Rotations:

• Paul Iaizzo
• Apostolos Georgopoulos
• Cheryl Olman
• David Redish

Courses Taken Beyond the Core Courses:

• NSc 8320 Neurostatistical Analysis
• Phsl 5201Computational Neuroscience: Membranes and Channels
• Psy 5993 Machine Learning
• NSc 5202 Theoretical Neuroscience: Systems and Information Processing
• CGSC 8041 Cognitive Neuroscience

Conferences Attended and Presentations:

• Society for Neuroscience - 2007

Selected Publications and Presentations:

Presentations:

• Steiner, A.P., Gill, M.J., Ha, R.A., & Cain, M.E.. Dose dependent effects of d-cycloserine on operant responding. 79th Annual Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago IL, May 2007.
• Ha, R.A., Pittenger, S.T., Steiner, A.P., Parrish, M.H., & Cain, M.E.. Individual differences in response to nicotine conditioning and reinstatement. 79th Annual Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago IL, May 2007.
• Ha, R.A. Kabriel, J.R., Steiner, A. P., Parrish, M.H., & Cain, M.E.. Effects of Rearing Environment on Pavlovian Conditioned Hyperactivity. Pavlovian Society Annual Meeting, September 2006.

Home Town:

• Wichita , KS