What are some of the ethical issues that you are grappling with in your research? What are some of the ways in which you are responding to these questions?
As my research involves mice models, I have been ensuring that the least number of mice are used and they undergo the least amount of stress/pain as per IACUC guidelines. I have been doing this by handling mice before preforming injections or experiments in order to familiarize the mouse to being held and the motions/techniques that will be used. Beyond this, I have been shadowing and assisting with mice surgeries and various other procedures that I will need to preform later on in my research process. This allows me to get comfortable/confident with the techniques, receive feedback, and apply corrections. The more accurately I conduct each step of the experiment the less mice I have to use and the less stress and pain the mice must undergo. I have been asking questions when I am uncertain and communicating clearly with my team members and will continue to do so in order to ensure this.
As you continue your research, have you considered alternative viewpoints in your investigation? If so, how have these alternative viewpoints enriched or changed your project?
As I have been reading the existing research on social memory and the various regions of the hippocampus to craft my literature review, I came across a study on valence associated social memory (the focus of my research) using an artificial foot shock to create a negative association with a specific mouse. My project involves social memories with a negative valence as well; however, we are creating that negative association using acute social defeat by an aggressive mouse. Considering the alternative method used in the study I read has led me to recognize various aspects of my current methodology that I had not considered previously. First, the use of an attack by an aggressive mouse to create a negative social memory is more natural compared to the foot shock. Thus, utilizing this method allows the mouse to undergo an interaction that aligns with typical behavior rather than being exposed to a novel stimuli, such as a foot shock. However, I also recognize the increased variability present in the methodology of my project as the interaction between the aggressor and test mouse will spontaneously vary while the foot shock can be heavily regulated. These realizations and connections will help inform the interpretation of my results allowing me to ensure that the conclusions I make are directly supported by my data.
Where does your research take place? Take a photo of the place where your ideas and investigations are taking place, and post it to the Network!
I spend my days at Siegelbaum Lab at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute. I have attached a photo of the desk I work at. However, a lot of my time is spent in the animal facility whether it be the behavioral room, breeding room, or surgery room. Photos are not allowed to be taken in the rooms of the animal facility, but just imagine a white room filled with mouse cages and scientific equipment.