Brain and Behavior Conference Returns to Scranton
The 2025 University of Scranton Brain and Behavior Conference was recently held at the Loyola Science Center.Multiple University of Scranton undergraduate students made poster presentations for the 2025 University of Scranton Brain and Behavior Conference, held April 26 at the Loyola Science Center.
The following Scranton students made poster presentations at the event, which served as an opportunity for undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. researchers to present their findings:
- Stephen Butler, a neuroscience major from Telford: Neurological structural and chemical effects of chronic morphine exposure in Camponotus floridanus
- Matthew Bispo, a neuroscience and philosophy major from Vineland, New Jersey: Hsd17b7 Localizes Along Neurite Structures in Differentiating Neuro2a Cells
- Andrew Mauriello, a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major from Duryea: Isolating and identifying candidate Neuro2a cells deficient in Hsd17b7
- Vlad Dumitrescu, a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major from Lords Valley: Analyzing expression of Hsd17b7 during Neuro2a differentiation
- Mackenna Percey, a neuroscience major from Branchville, New Jersey: The Effects on Dopamine of Socially Isolated Drosophila Flies
- Madasen Mariano, a neuroscience major from Mayfield: The Buzz of CBD: Analyzing Locomotive Behavior in Campontus floridunas
- Madalyne Gasper, a neuroscience major from Stroudsburg: Investigating the Role of the Telencephalon on the Startle Response in Goldfish, Carassius auratus
- Martine Sirianni, a physiology major from Media: Impacts of taurine on zebrafish aggression and gene expression
- Jacob Mohring, a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major from East Stroudsburg: Effects of OBA in a Castration-Based Model of Parkinson's Disease
- Gerald Donahue, a neuroscience major from Clarks Summit: Comparing Anxiety Levels in Castrated vs. Intact Mice Using the Elevated Plus Maze
- Stephen Kudriavetz, a biochemistry, cell and molecular biology major from Randolph, New Jersey: Behavioral Cellular and Molecular Characterization of a Castration Based Model of PD
- Alexandra Shomali, a mathematical sciences and philosophy major from Ellicott City, Maryland: Computational Modeling of the BK Ion Channel Using the Morris-Lecar Equations
- Patrick Kane, a neuroscience major from New Milford, New Jersey: Developing a Female-Specific Mouse Model for Parkinson’s Disease Using a High-Sensitivity Neural Network
Additionally, Patrick Orr, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at Scranton, presented “Misinformation Concerning the H.M. Case Study: A Temporal-Lobe Focused Seizure?”
The morning keynote speech, “Reward Interrupted: Impulsivity and Addition in Diverse Animal Models,” was given by J. David Jentsch, Ph.D., distinguished professor and chair, Psychology Department, Binghamton University. The afternoon lecture, “Seaing Neurobiology Through the Lens of an Anemone,” was made by Michael J. Layden, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Biological Sciences/Neuroscience, Lehigh University.
