This summer I was granted the opportunity to work in the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB) lab under the supervision of Dr. Adam E. Fox, where I began phase one of a multi-phase experiment investigating the effects of experience and maturation on impulsive choice behavior. The experiment looks at delay discounting specifically, with a task that involves repeated choices between smaller, sooner and larger, later rewards. Steep delay discounting, which is the consistent preference for the sooner, smaller reward over time and across delays, is associated with patterns of behavior that negatively impact health, wealth, and psychological well-being. The experiment uses outbred Wistar rats where rats spend different periods of time completing a discounting task in operant chambers daily, therefore gaining different amounts of experience in the discounting task while controlling for aging/maturation and all other life experiences and genetics.
This summer we completed training and phase one of this experiment. All rats were trained under the same conditions and then one group of rats completed the discounting task daily for three weeks. This involved daily operant chamber sessions, data collection, and animal care. I was also responsible for training new lab members on proper animal handling techniques and use of the operant chambers, ensuring accurate data collection and ethical practices in the lab.
The remaining phases of this project will be completed throughout the academic year as my Senior Year Experience, with an anticipated end in March of 2026. My research experience this summer laid the foundation for this future work, helping me gain valuable experience that will allow me to lead with confidence as I continue this research in the Fall.