Psychology Department Research Areas

Dr. A. Kurt Thaw

Research: Regulation of Appetite, Physiology of the Taste System, Development of the Taste System

My research focuses on the factors that contribute to the initiation and termination of feeding behavior. Though much progress has been made in this area in the past 30 years, we are still left with a significant number of important questions. Specifically, how do we know when we are hungry and do we know when we are full. These simple questions have surprisingly elusive answers. In fact, currently there is no real agreement on what precisely it is that signals feeding to begin and/or end. Therefore, my lab has chosen 2 main factors to investigate: 1) specific chemical signals released by the gastrointestinal system that seem to communicate directly with the brain concerning and 2) the effects of known appetite regulators on the taste system. Below is list of current research opportunities in the area of behavioral neuroscience.

Current Research Opportunities in Psychology/Neuroscience:

3 projects are currently available for interested students. Both can be conducted at any time during the year (Fall, Spring or Summer). However, a rigorous schedule must be adhered to in order to complete the project. Specifically, the researcher needs to be available at the same time each day. On the positive side, the time to complete each project is fairly minimal (less than 2 months).

Project 1: The Regulation of Appetite

Students will monitor the feeding behavior of ad libitum feeding rats using automated computer controlled apparati. Once baseline measures of "normal" feeding are established rats will receive intraperitoneal injections of various putative satiety agents to determine their effect on appetite in the mammalian model. Results will contribute to the growing body of literature aimed at identifying agents that act to maintain the feeling of "fullness" between meals.

Project 2: Taste Effects of Satiety Factors

Students will train rats to drink from a variety of solutions (mostly sugars or salts). Once baseline indices of intake are established the rats will be injected with putative satiety factors (ones that have previously been demonstrated to reduce food intake) to determine if they act by reducing the oral reinforcing properties of the solutions. In other words, do the satiety factors make the good stuff not taste so good anymore. Results will establish taste as one of the mechanisms of action for the satiety peptides.

Project 3: Taste Thresholds for Developmentally NaCl restricted rats

Students will determine the taste thresholds of rats that have been developmentally NaCl restricted. This restriction produces numerous anatomical and neurophysiological changes in the rat. One such change is severely reduced neural response to NaCl. However, it has yet to be determined if such physiological changes correlates with similar behavioral changes. This project will determine if the neurophysiological deficits are also expressed behaviorally.

For all 3 projects please contact Kurt Thaw at 974-1380 (thawak@millsaps.edu).

Social Psychology - Dr. Stephen Black (Repressed, false and flashbulb memories, and Suicide).

For information regarding other research being conducted in the sciences at Millsaps College click here.

CLASSWORK MATERIAL for Dr. Thaw