About Us

The brain underlies every behavior, every reaction, every emotion, every breath, i.e., our lives. The mechanism for our psychology is the brain. In the Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience (BCN) training area we investigate both humans and animals to understand the neural underpinnings for each unique and integrated behavior.

Our questions arise from detailed studies of behavior and continue through the rigorous pursuit of the neural circuitry responsible for learning, memory, sleep, communication, thirst, hypertension, drug addiction, stress responses, and other critical behaviors. Understanding the neural circuitry for each of these behaviors is building a solid foundation of knowledge from which we interact with applications to the other areas of psychology, increasing our physical and mental health, and improving the quality of our daily lives.

Our Approach

Our research area relies on numerous cutting-edge techniques alongside well-established behavioral paradigms and our training area is strongly represented by a systems neuroscience approach. As no behavior relies

completely on a single brain structure, we focus on systems neuroscience to determine how groups of neurons are connected together forming neural networks to process sensory information, form perceptions of the external and internal world, regulate motivational states, learn, remember, make decisions, execute motor movements, and regulate our bodies. We employ a multitude of research techniques from neurophysiology in single cells to EEG, imaging, immunohistochemistry, lesions, and neuroanatomy, all applied to our behavioral questions. Our technical approaches are rapidly added to as we combine the best methodologies to answer each question. Our research training area is committed to bridging the vast space between molecular and cellular approaches to the brain and understanding complex behavioral and mental states.

Our Research

Each training area faculty member has a distinctive research program, but there also are many shared interests and extensive exchanges affording the possibility of learning new techniques and research collaboration. The content areas of research strength and focus include:

• Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
• Animal Behavior
• Sleep
• Communication
• Sensory processing
• Neural Circuitry of Stress
• Substance Addiction
• Neurodevelopment

The Program

The Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience training area provides students with the conceptual and research skills necessary to pursue careers in both the academic and scientific communities. Students begin participating in laboratory investigations in their first semester and are encouraged to develop independent research projects as soon as possible. Classes are held in small-group settings designed to produce critical thinkers and creative experimenters.

Faculty research strengths include the subdisciplines of developmental psychobiology, cognitive neuroscience, animal learning, comparative psychology, and physiological psychology.

Full financial support is provided to all graduate students in the program.

Prospective Graduate Students

If you are thinking about applying to our Ph.D. program in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience (BCN) and want to learn more about the program and the affiliated faculty, please feel free to contact our training area coordinator, Amy Poremba at:

Department Contact / General Inquiry