Abstract
Anxiety disorders make up many diagnoses of psychopathologies, and treatment incurs great financial and societal costs. The neurobiological mechanisms of anxiety are not yet understood, although research has indicated dysregulation of the limbic system and hippocampus as a potential cause. Previous studies have found a possible interaction between the hippocampus and anxiety-like behavior in rodents. However, most have looked at the ventral hippocampus, and few have used designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs). The current study used DREADDs to excite the dorsal hippocampus to investigate the role of the hippocampus in anxiety-like behavior through the open field test. No significant differences were found in anxiety-like behavior when the dorsal hippocampus was activated. This information may indicate that more specific regions of the hippocampus need to be targeted to examine behavioral consequences.
Advisor
Zuniga, Alfredo
Department
Neuroscience
Recommended Citation
Ollech, Hannah, "If You Give a Mouse a Virus: An Investigation of the Role of the Dorsal Hippocampus in Anxiety-Like Behavior through DREADDs" (2024). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11223.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11223
Disciplines
Cognitive Psychology | Diseases | Mental and Social Health
Keywords
DREADDs, anxiety
Publication Date
2024
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2024 Hannah Ollech