Meika Nadeau '26 is from Tupper Lake, New York and is majoring in biomedical sciences and minoring in public health. She is interested in mechanisms that drive behavior and joined Dr Adam E. Fox's lab to explore techniques that analyze the relationships undermining impulsivity. This summer Meika investigated the effect of variable conditions on impulsive choice using a delay discounting task with rats. Variable interval reinforcement schedules reflect real world unpredictable conditions by delivering rewards in average time delays rather than fixed time delays, previous work shows that impulsive choice can be reduced with these reinforcement schedules. Steep delay discounting is a trans disease process meaning it is an underlying mechanism behind multiple disorders and maladaptive behaviors such as ADHD, obesity, and substance misuse. Through this research, she hopes to deepen her understanding of how variable outcomes may influence and reduce impulsive choice, ultimately strengthening her skills as a student researcher and future health care provider.
