02/02/2023
Dr. Josh Kaplan along with BNS alum, Mackenzie Aychman (’22), and local neurosurgeon, Dr. David Goldman, recently published a review paper in Frontiers in Neurology titled, “Cannabidiol’s neuroprotective properties and potential treatment of traumatic brain injuries”. This paper is the culmination of Mackenzie’s research during the BNS Medical Internship in Neurosurgery under Dr. Goldman’s mentorship. The paper lays out the mechanisms underlying cannabidiol’s clinical potential for protecting the brain from the damaging cascade of events that follow the primary injury. It also assesses the current state of research, which has prompted upcoming clinical trials investigating the therapeutic effects of CBD in patients with PTSD, as well as veterans of the NHL and NFL professional sports leagues that experienced repeated brain trauma. To learn more about Dr. Kaplan’s research please visit his lab website. To learn more about the BNS medical internships please visit the website here.
01/21/2022
The Grimm Lab is excited to announce the publication of their research on the sex differences in addiction behaviors, published in Biology of Sex Differences. This work was co-authored by 7 BNS students who are now alumni of the program.
Visit the link to read the article https://bit.ly/3fMmm5s
The Grimm Lab is following up on these studies by investigating the role of the orbitofrontal cortex in sucrose taking and seeking in Long-Evans adult rats, including how environmental enrichment reduces sucrose taking and seeking. To learn more about Dr. Grimm’s research please visit his lab website.
11/05/2021
One Patient at a time: WWU’s Jeff Carroll and n-Lorem article in Western Today by Zoe Fraley Office of University Communications.
09/07/2021
The Kaplan Lab is excited to announce the publication of their research on the developmental effects of the non-intoxicating cannabinoid, cannabidiol (often just referred to as “CBD”) during the equivalent mouse adolescent period. Their article, “Cannabidiol exposure during the mouse adolescent period is without harmful behavioral effects on locomotor activity, anxiety, and spatial memory”, published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, demonstrates that twice daily dosing of CBD throughout the 3-week adolescent period doesn’t negatively impact several core behaviors in adulthood and even improves the rate that mice learn a spatial memory task. They also revealed that adolescent CBD exposure had sex-specific effects on weight gain, reducing total weight gain females, but not males. This work reflects the effort of 10 undergraduates and 1 experimental psych masters student and has implications for the progression of clinical trials for CBD treatment of numerous disorders including epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder and anxiety in adolescent populations. The Kaplan Lab is following up on these studies by investigating several additional human equivalent developmental stages including prenatal, infancy, and early childhood to model the exposure children are experiencing in utero and in breastmilk.
Click the link here to read the article about Dr. Jeff Grimm’s research.
Title: Your Brain on Sugar: Inside the Neuroscience of Cravings and Addiction by John Thompson
To learn more about Dr. Jeff Grimm’s research please visit his lab website here: https://wp.wwu.edu/grimmlab/
BNS 194- Behavioral Neuroscience
July 12th-16th, 2021
College Quest helps high school students who are entering grades 10-12 prepare for and understand what it takes to succeed in college. During the week of July 12th-16th, two of our BNS Program faculty will offer an online Behavioral Neuroscience course, BNS 194 for College Quest participants. For more information, use the link here.
Viking Launch
BNS 195- Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience
September 16th-20th, 2019
Viking Launch is designed to provide incoming freshmen a strong, focused start-up to college life at Western. Research demonstrates that freshmen are most apt to succeed when they are socially and academically integrated within a campus community, when they are prepared and ready for their courses, and when they attend classes with an eye to their future goals and plans. Viking Launch is designed to help students successfully achieve these advantages before fall classes begin.
For complete details please visit the Viking Launch website.
BNS 195 Course Details
This course will introduce you to behavioral neuroscience in Western’s state-of-the-art neuroscience research facility, where you will learn about the role that the nervous system plays in normal and abnormal behavior, thought and emotion. (2 credits)
Viking Launch offers incoming freshmen a strong, focused start-up to college life at Western. Students will arrive on campus seven days early for an intensive week of study and preparation for a successful Western Experience.
To read course details for BNS 195 please visit the course details page.
Instructors: Dr. Mike Mana
Dr. Jeff Grimm received a renewal of his NIH grant for $400,000
Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience, Jeff Grimm received in April 2019 a renewal of his NIH grant for $400,000 to support his research into the sex differences in the neurobiology of craving. The title for his grant is, “Sex Differences in Reinforcement: Role of Environmental Enrichment and the Orbitofrontal Cortex”. Please read his Western Today interview article titled, Sugar Nation: WWU’s Jeff Grimm working to unravel how the brain feeds addictions and cravings
College Quest July 7-12th, 2019
For students entering grades 10-12. You don’t want to miss this opportunity! A one week college experience for high schoolers. Join us and complete a real Behavioral Neuroscience college course- BNS 194 and earn college credit.
BNS 195 Course Details
This course will introduce you to behavioral neuroscience in Western’s state-of-the-art neuroscience research facility, where you will learn about the role that the nervous system plays in normal and abnormal behavior, thought and emotion. (2 credits)
Viking Launch offers incoming freshmen a strong, focused start-up to college life at Western. Students will arrive on campus seven days early for an intensive week of study and preparation for a successful Western Experience.
For complete details visit the College Quest website.
Instructors: Dr. Mike Mana
Recent News
Dr. Jeff Grimm, professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at Western Washington University presented, “Sex Differences in Reinforcement: Role of Environmental Enrichment and the Orbitofrontal Cortex” on Thursday, March 7, 2019.
Dr. Jeff Grimm’s lab investigates the neurobiology of relapse. With the collaboration of student laboratory assistants, he is conducting experiments to identify
brain areas involved in relapse.For more information please visit Dr. Jeff Grimm’s research lab website.
Dr. Josh Kaplan, assistant professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at Western Washington University presented “Cracking the Cannabis Code: How advances in cannabinoid science can improve medicine and limit harm” on Tuesday, Jan 29, 2019.
Dr. Josh Kaplan’s lab employs behavioral, genetic, pharmacological and electrophysiological techniques in an effort to optimize cannabis’ medicinal benefits, minimize side effects and better understand its impact on the developing brain. For more information please visit Dr. Josh Kaplan’s research lab website.
Recent WWU BNS graduate Russell Marx has been working at the University of Washington School of Medicine to create software that can decode rodent chatter!
1/4/2019 Check out the story!
BNS Program raises over $12,000 to support undergraduate research
Thank you to everyone who participated in supporting BNS during WWU Give Day! Whether it was through your donation, your time, or even just reading our facebook posts about student research, we appreciate your support! Because of your support, the program was successful in raising over $12,000 as part of WWU Give Day efforts, which will be used to directly support undergraduate research efforts. The BNS program wouldn’t be what it is today without the amazing donors, alumni, faculty, staff, and students that are part of the BNS family, and we are so thankful for your support for undergraduate research.
Students, faculty, and staff staying up to support undergraduate research for WWU Give Day
BNS Newsletter
IN 2017, as part of WWU Give Day, the BNS program was succesful in raising over $10,000 as part of our “Stay up for Student Research Campaign. We wanted to share the impact on students within the BNS program, and the research opportunities they were able to pursue because of the generous support of our donors. The newsletter below highlights several students who received support to pursue undergraduate research this past year.
Download the most recent BNS Newsletter.
2019
BNS faculty Jeff Grimm featured in Western Today
Dr. Grimm was recently interviewed regarding his current research projects and how he started studying cravings and addictions. Click the link below to read the interview. Visit Dr. Grimm’s lab page to find out more about his current research projects.
Dr. Grimm Western Today Interview
2017
BNS faculty Jeff Carroll featured in the Seattle Times
Dr. Carroll, a professor in the Behavioral Neuroscience Program, was recently featured in the Seattle Times about his research in Huntington’s Disease. Click the link below to read about his story.
Jeff Carroll Seattle Times Article
Jeff Carroll publishes research with BNS students
Dr. Carroll’s lab published findings from two recent studies, the first study characterized a mouse model of Huntington’s disease, while the second was designed to test the effects of a potential Huntington’s disease therapeutic drug in this model. Several BNS students from Dr. Carroll’s lab provided valuable contributions to help complete these projects. Find out more about Dr. Carroll’s research on his lab website.
BNS in the news
One of our own faculty members, Jeff Carroll, is famous! Check out the link below to view a Kiro 7 TV interview featuring Jeff Carroll and his research lab.
Jeff Carroll Interview with Kiro 7 News
2016
Can you spot the Behavioral Neuroscience graduates? Check out this neat video from the Paul Allen Institute about their recent work on visualizing and mapping the brain. BNS Graduates Twee Nguyen (2013) and Fiona Griffin (2014) make a cameo appearance in the video.
2015
One of our own faculty members, Jeff Carroll, has recently been featured in Western Window, “The Magazine of Western Washington University,” in an article outlining his life and research. Read this fascinating story of personal development and dedication.