Gretchen Hanson Gotthard, Ph.D.

| VITA

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Experimental Psychology (Concentration: Biopsychology)

Kent State University, Kent, OH, August 2000 – August 2002 

Doctoral Dissertation: The Sand Maze: An Appetitive Alternative to the Morris Water Maze.

M.A., Experimental Psychology

Kent State University, Kent, OH, August 1997 – August 2000 

Masters Thesis: The Effects of Pretraining and Reminder Treatments on Retrograde Amnesia in Rats: Comparison of Lesions to the Fornix or Perirhinal and Entorhinal Cortices.

B.S., Psychology

University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, August 1992 – December 1995

A.A., General Studies

Northland Community College, Thief River Falls, MN, August 1990 – May 1992

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Association for Psychological Science (APS)

Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)

Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience (FUN)

Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society

Society for Neuroscience (SFN)

Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP)

PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA - Assistant Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience

(August 2008 - Present)

Introduction to Psychology

Learning and Behavior

Biological Psychology

Special Topics: Memory & Amnesia

Brain & Behavior (with Lab)

Advanced Lab: Conditioning

Randolph College, Lynchburg, VA – Associate Professor of Psychology

(July 2004 – July 2008)

Introduction to Psychology

Abnormal Psychology

Psychopharmacology

Research Problems in Psychology

Experimental Psychology: Learning (with Lab)

Experimental Psychology: Sensation and Perception (with Lab)

Experimental Psychology: Physiological Processes (with Lab)

Memory and Amnesia

Seminar in Advanced General Psychology     

Carleton College, Northfield, MN – Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychology

(September 2002 – June 2004)

Principles of Psychology

Memory and Amnesia

Laboratory Research Methods in Behavioral Neuroscience

Cognitive Neuroscience

Topics in Physiological Psych: Multiple Memory Systems of the Brain

Psychology of Learning

Laboratory Research Methods in Learning

Clinical Neuropsychology

Senior Tutorial

Carleton Summer Teaching Institute (Psychology)

Kent State University, Kent, OH – Graduate Teaching Fellow                                              

(August 1998 – December 2001)

Honors General Psychology

Basic Learning Processes (with Lab)

Comparative Psychology

Writing in Psychology

RESEARCH TRAINING     

Kent State University, Kent, OH – Graduate Research Assistant                                    

(August 1997 – May 2002)

I worked with Dr. David C. Riccio, Dr. Michael D. Bunsey, and Dr. Steven B. Fountain on a variety of learning, memory, and biopsychological experiments involving animal subjects (i.e., rats and mice).  I also supervised and trained several undergraduate research assistants, designed new experiments based on literature reviews, and presented findings at regional and national conferences.  During my graduate training I collected data using the following behavioral tasks and paradigms and acquired the following skills and techniques:

• Behavioral tasks and paradigms: sand maze (I developed this task while working with Dr. Michael Bunsey), Morris water maze, T-maze, Bunsey digging task (odor discrimination task), serial pattern learning, conditioned morphine tolerance, and hex maze (maze for examining spatial and nonspatial learning and memory).
• Neuroscience techniques: stereotaxic neurosurgeries in rat subjects (including radiofrequency, electrolytic, and neurotoxic lesion methods), non-stereotaxic neurosurgeries in rodent subjects (including the aspiration lesion method), histological preparation of neural tissues (including perfusions, brain slicing and mounting, and staining techniques), lesion analysis of prepared brain slices, and electrical brain stimulation. 

University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN – Post-Baccalaureate Research Assistant           

(January 1996 – July 1997)

I worked with Dr. J. Bruce Overmier on a number of experiments involving the Differential Outcomes Effect in animal subjects (i.e., pigeons and rodents).  My responsibilities included collecting data using operant chambers (pigeons) and the radial arm maze (rats), analyzing data, and participating in the design of new experiments.

University of North Dakota – Undergraduate Research Assistant                                     

(January 1995 – December 1995)

I assisted Dr. Joseph J. Plaud with an experiment involving the effects of misinformation in human subjects.  My major responsibility was data collection.

FACULTY/STUDENT RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS

Muhlenberg College (August 2008 - present)

Brittany Sherman (’12): Effects of propranolol on reconsolidation of traumatic memory in a predator-based model of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

              * Partially funded by a Dean’s grant to Brittany Sherman.

Emily Einhorn (’12) and Johanna Block (’11): Examination of “updated” consolidation: Does cycloheximide block reversal learning in appetitive odor discrimination learning in rats?

              * Partially funded by a Sentience Foundation grant to Johanna Block.

Michelle Cohen (’12) and Christa Houck (’12): The hex maze: Development of a novel appetitive paradigm for the examination of spatial and nonspatial learning and memory.

              * Partially funded by a Provost Collaborative grant to Michelle Cohen and a Sentience Foundation grant to Christa Houck.

Joshua Cohen (’11): Extinction-induced despair (EID) in the sand maze: Effects of cycloheximide and propranolol on memory for extinction of positive reinforcement in rats

   *Partially funded by a Dean’s Grant to Joshua Cohen.

Josh Cohen (’11): Examination of the attenuation of extinction-induced despair (EID) via chronic desipramine (tricyclic antidepressant) administration on extinction-induced despair in rats.

Katherine DiPierro (’11): The role of focused and unfocused drawing on recall for recently learned material

Johanna Block (’11), Caitlin Burgdorf (’12): Effects of cycloheximide on “linked” context and olfactory memories in rats.

  *Partially funded by Sentience Foundation grants awarded to Johanna Block and Caitlin Burgdorf.

Eric Gonzalez (’10) and Johanna Block (’11): Protein synthesis inhibition and appetitive memory reconsolidation: Effects of cycloheximide on retrained odor discrimination memory in long-evans rats.

  *Partially funded by a Provost’s Collaborative Grant to Johanna Block and a Sentience Foundation grant to Eric Gonzalez.

J. Matt Marini (’11) and Samantha Mangel (’12): Effects of propranolol on memory for a predator in an animal model of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Christopher Lewis (’11), Demetrai Tate (’10) and Cory Hackmyer (’11): Effects of predator stress on subsequent spatial learning in the Sand Maze.

Josh Glueck (’09), Matt Eadline (’09), and Matt Marini (’11): Protein synthesis inhibition and extinction: Does cycloheximide produce amnesia for extinction of an odor discrimination in rats?

Sarah Cappello (’09) and Catherine Ruscitti (’09): Protein synthesis inhibition and spatial learning and memory: Cycloheximide produces amnesia for extinction in the sand maze.

Randolph College (July 2004- July 2008)

Alexandra Knoppel (’10), Katherine Janson (’10), and Sonnet White (’09): Effect of cycloheximide on extinction of odor discrimination learning in rats.

Ashley R. Smith (’06): State dependent effects of cannabinoids on learning and memory in the sand maze.

Sarah Linderman (’06) and Mary Marr (’06): Examination of the amnesia-attenuating effects of pretraining in odor discrimination learning in rats given cycloheximide (protein synthesis inhibitor).

Elizabeth Nguyen (’09), Anne Shila Waritu (’07), and Ashley Self (’07): Role of reminder treatments in recovery from cycloheximide-induced amnesia in an odor discrimination task.

Alyson Borneman (’06), Kim Ramlow (’06), and Marja-Gay Smith (’06): Examination of the differential outcomes effect (DOE) in preschoolers’ spatial learning and memory abilities.

Katie Radke (’06), Brittany Hagar (’08), and Morgan Froy (’08): Effect of reinforcer salience on sand maze performance.

Carleton College (Sept. 2002 – June 2004)                                

Edaeni Hamid: Comparison of water maze and sand maze on acquisition and retention.

Katie Stem: Memory retention in the sand maze following post-training administration of MK-801.

April Anderson, Jade Bender, Bree Nordenson, and Annie Olinick: Alternation behavior in the sand maze.

Donigan Linder and Jamie Uejima: The Effects of cholecystokinin-8S (CCK-8S) on memory performance in the sand maze.  (Conducted along with Larry Wichlinski)

 *Funded by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to (Co-PI’s: Wichlinski and Gotthard).   

Kent State University (Aug. 1999 – May 2002)                   

Dawn Carissan: Massed versus spaced learning in the sand maze.

Chrissy Hall: Spatial characteristics of the sand maze. (Summer REU Program)

Manal Farhan: Spatial Learning and Memory in the Sand Maze.

PUBLICATIONS

*  Denotes student co-author

Cohen, J.* & Gotthard, G. H. (2011). Extinction of appetitive learning is disrupted by cycloheximide and propranolol in the sand maze in rats. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 95, 484-490.

Gotthard, G. H. & Knoppel, A. B.* (2010). Cycloheximide produces amnesia for extinction and reconsolidation in an appetitive odor discrimination task in rats.  Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 93, 127-131.

Gotthard, G.H. (2006). The sand maze. In M.J. Anderson (Ed.), Tasks and techniques: A sampling of the methodologies for the investigation of animal learning, behavior, and cognition (pp. 87-95). New York: Nova Science Publishers.

Hanson, G.R. (2003).  The sand maze: An appetitive alternative to the Morris water maze (Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2003).  Dissertation Abstracts International, 63, 4958.

Hanson, G. R., Bunsey, M. D., and Riccio, D. C.  (2002).  The effects of pretraining and reminder treatments on retrograde amnesia in rats: Comparison of lesions to the fornix or perirhinal and entorhinal cortices.  Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 78, 365-378.

MANUSCRIPTS IN PRESS

*  Denotes student co-author

Gotthard, G.H., Block, J. N.*, Cohen, M.*, & Houck, C.* (in press). Appetitively-motivated spatial and nonspatial digging in rats. Journal of Behavioral and Neuroscience Research [Special Issue: Laboratory Activities for Courses in Learning; Eds. R. Flint, Jr. & M. Anderson].

MANUSCRIPTS UNDER REVIEW

*  Denotes student co-author

Block, J. N.*, Gonzalez, E.J.*, Einhorn, E. H.*, & Gotthard, G. H. (2011). Updated consolidation: Reconsolidation of appetitive odor discrimination requires protein synthesis only when reactivation involves novel information. Manuscript submitted for publication.

MANUSCRIPTS IN PREPARATION

*  Denotes student co-author

Gotthard, G. H., Marini, J.M.*, Mangel, S.*, Block, J.*, Tate, D.*, Hackmyer, C.* & Burgdorf, C.* (2010).  Predator-exposure animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder: Propranolol attenuates fear responses in an elevated plus maze, but not in a spatial sand maze task. Manuscript in preparation.

PRESENTATIONS AT REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CONFERENCES

*  Denotes student co-author

Muhlenberg College

Gotthard, G. H., Marini, J. M.*, Mangel, S.*, Block, J.*, Tate, D.* & Hackmyer, C.* (Nov. 2010). Animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Effects of propranolol on exploration in an elevated plus maze in rats. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.

Cohen, J. * & Gotthard, G. H. (May, 2010). Cycloheximide and Propranolol Disrupt Memory in Appetitive Rat Model of Learned Helplessness. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, Boston, MA.

Gonzalez, E.*, Block, J.* & Gotthard, G. H. (April, 2010).  Protein Synthesis Inhibition and Appetitive Memory Reconsolidation: Effects of Cycloheximide on Retrained Odor Discrimination Memory in Long-Evans Rats. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

Glueck, J.*, Eadline, M.*, Marini, J.*, and Gotthard, G.H. (March, 2009).  Protein synthesis inhibition and extinction: Does cycloheximide produce amnesia for extinction of and odor discrimination in rats?  Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, Pittsburgh, PA.

Gotthard, G. H. (2009). Critical Analysis and Synthesis: Applications to an Upper-Level Memory and Amnesia Seminar. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the National Institute for Teaching of Psychology, St. Pete Beach, FL.

Eadline, M.*, Glueck, J.*, Marini, J. M.* & Gotthard, G. H. (April, 2009).  Cycloheximide produces amnesia for an odor discrimination in rats.  Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Lehigh Valley Area Independent Colleges (LVAIC) undergraduate psychology conference, DeSales University.

Randolph College

Knoppel, A.*, Janson, K.*, White, S.*, and Gotthard, G.H. (April, 2007).  Effect of cycloheximide on extinction of odor discrimination learning in rats. Poster presented at the annual meeting of SYNAPSE, Davidson, NC.

Knöppel, A.* & Gotthard, G. H. (2007). Cycloheximide produces amnesia for extinction and reconsolidation in an appetitive odor discrimination task in rats. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Virginia Psychological Association, Charlottesville, VA. [Best Undergraduate Poster Award to Alexandra Knöppel]

Linderman, S.*, Marr, M.*, Self, A.*, Nguyen, E.*, and Gotthard, G.H. (April, 2006). Protein synthesis is not required for extinction of paired-associate odor discriminations. Poster presented at the annual meeting of SYNAPSE, Davidson, NC.

Smith, A. R.*, and Gotthard, G. H. (Nov, 2005).  Examination of the state dependent properties of WIN-55-212-2 on spatial learning and memory in rats in the sand maze.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC.

Smith, A.R.*, and Gotthard, G.H. (April, 2005).  Spatial learning and memory in the sand maze: Does WIN-2 produce state dependent retention in rats?  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Virginia Psychological Association, Williamsburg, VA. [Best Undergraduate Poster Award to Ashley Smith]

Carleton College

Gotthard, G. H., and Hamid, E.* (Nov, 2004). Comparison of spatial behavior in the sand maze and the water maze.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Psychonomic Society, Minneapolis, MN.

Gotthard, G. H., Carissan, D.*, and Riccio, D. C. (May, 2003).  Comparison of alternation behavior in spatial and non-spatial versions of the Sand Maze.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

Anderson, A.*, Bender, J.*, Olinick, A.*, Nordenson, B.*, and Gotthard, G. H. (April, 2003).  Alternation Behavior in the Sand Maze: The Effects of Spatial versus “Less” Spatial Training.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference, Bethel College, St. Paul, MN.

Kent State University

Hanson, G. R. and Riccio, D. C. (May, 2002).  The effects of massed and spaced training trials on acquisition, retention, and extinction in the Sand Maze.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

Hanson, G. R., and Riccio, D. C. (October, 2001).  The Sand Maze: An appetitive alternative to the Morris Water Maze.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Pavlovian Society, New Brunswick, NJ.

Hanson, G. R., Farhan, M.*, and Riccio, D. C. (May, 2001).  The Sand Maze: An appetitive alternative to the Morris Water Maze.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

Hanson, G. R., Kaut, K. K., and Bunsey, M. D. (May, 1999).  Comparison of retrograde amnesia following lesions of the fornix versus perirhinal and entorhinal cortices. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

Hanson, G. R., and Bunsey, M. D. (November, 1998).  Comparison of retrograde amnesia following lesions of fornix versus perirhinal and entorhinal cortices.  Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 24, 929.  Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Los Angeles, CA.

RESEARCH GRANTS AND AWARDS

Muhlenberg College

Faculty Center for Teaching Grant (awarded Summer, 2011) to present student co-authored poster at the National Institute on the Teaching of Psychology (NITOP) in January, 2012.

Faculty Summer Grant (Summer, 2010) for project entitled: Development of an animal model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Examination of the effects of cycloheximide on retrieval of traumatic memory.

Faculty Center for Teaching Grant (Feb., 2010) to represent Muhlenberg College (as CUR Liaison) at Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Dialogues (Washington, DC).

Faculty Summer Grant (Summer, 2009) for project entitled: Protein Synthesis Inhibition and Appetitive Memory Reconsolidation: Effects of Cycloheximide on Retrained Odor Discrimination Memory in Long-Evans Rats.

Randolph College

Professional Development Grant to present research with Alexandra Knoppel ’10 at SYNAPSE conference in Davidson, NC (April, 2007).

Faculty Development Grant to attend Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Exploration of Teaching and Learning in Cocoa Beach, FL (Oct. 13-15, 2005).

Summer Research Grant to conduct study with Ashley Smith (’06) concerning state dependent properties of WIN-55-212-2 (Summer, 2005).

Professional Development Grant to present research at Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society in Minneapolis, MN (Nov., 2004).

Carleton College

Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Grant for research entitled “Effects of Neuropeptide Cholecystokinin-8S (CCK-8S) on Spatial Memory Processes in Rats” (2003).  Co-awarded with Larry Wichlinski.

Faculty Development Endowment (FDE) Grant for research entitled “Behavioral and Neural Components of Spatial Learning and Memory in the Sand Maze” (2002-2004).

Kent State University

Graduate Student Senate Research Grant for research entitled “The Sand Maze: An Appetitive Alternative to the Morris Water Maze” (2001).

Michael D. Bunsey Memorial Book Award (2001).

University of Minnesota

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) Grant for research entitled “Differential Outcomes and Effort” (1996).

COLLEGE SERVICE (Muhlenberg College)

Committee Service

Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow (WWVF) Committee

Chair: 2011-2012

Social Judicial Board

Academic Judicial Board

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

Advising

June Advisor

Major Advisor

First Year Advisor

Faculty Advisor for the Phi Mu sorority

Professional Service

Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) Liaison

Nu Rho Psi (Neuroscience National Honor Society) Chapter Reviewer

Journal of Behavioral and Neuroscience Research (JBNR) Reviewer

Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education (JUNE) Reviewer

REFERENCES

Mark Sciutto, Ph.D.                                                    Jeff Rudski, Ph.D.                                               

Chair, Department of Psychology                                   Department of Psychology                                  

Muhlenberg College                                                       Muhlenberg College                                               

2400 Chew Street                                                          2400 Chew Street                                    

Allentown, PA 18104                                                       Allentown, PA 18104                              

Email:    sciutto@muhlenberg.edu                                    Email: rudski@muhlenberg.edu

Phone: (484) 664-3649                                                   Phone: (484) 664-3486                                                                    

Julie Neiworth, Ph.D.                                                     Holly Tatum, Ph.D.

Department of Psychology                                                 Chair, Department of Psychology

Carleton College                                                               Randolph College

One North College Street                                                   2500 Rivermont Avenue

Northfield, MN 55057                                                         Lynchburg, VA 24503

Email:    jneiwort@carleton.edu                                          Email: htatum@randolphcollege.edu

Phone: (507) 222-4372                                                      Phone: (434) 947-8369