Learning, Memory and Classical Fear Conditioning

June 23–25, 2010
St. Albans, VT
$500
Course Complete

This three-day intensive workshop will cover theoretical and technical aspects related to the study of conditioned fear using the freeze response as a dependent measure. In addition, spatial learning and memory will be covered using the water maze. Other modules will focus on place conditioning, and assays for locomotor activity. Laboratory exercises will be performed using an automated video motion analysis system, and this type of system will be compared/contrasted to freeze scores obtained by human observation. Special attention will be paid to activity and shock reactivity, training, testing, extinction, and context discrimination. Water maze studies will be conducted using automated video tracking systems. Laboratory exercises for locomotor assays and place conditioning will be conducted using standard systems offered by Med Associates Inc. The course will be taught by Dr. Stephan Anagnostaras, PhD from UCSD, a recognized authority in murine fear conditioning.

An Introduction to Behavioral Research Protocol Programming: Getting Started with MED-PC®

July 5, 2010
Held in conjunction with the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies FENS 2010 meeting in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
$250 (SOLD OUT)
Course Complete

Med Associates and Sandown Scientific will be holding our first European installment of our popular Short Courses in Neuroscience series. This event will be held in conjunction with the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies FENS 2010 meeting in Amsterdam. The workshop, An Introduction to Behavioral Research Protocol Programming: Getting Started with MED-PC® is geared towards the beginning user of Med Associates operant conditioning equipment, including the powerful MED-PC® software.

During the first part of the workshop, attendees will learn about the structure of a Med Associates operant conditioning system, including how to set up a system using the student trainer interfaces (laptop computer, MED-PC® software, USB interface, trainer conditioning panel) that will be available to all attendees at the workshop. During the second part of the workshop, students will write their own procedures using the tutorials and exercises in the MED-PC® programmer’s manual as a guide. If you have already worked on your own MedState Notation™ programs, please bring examples of them, or bring the details of your behavioral experiments. This will allow you to practice using your own protocols and procedures. The course will be taught by Med Associates staff.

Running Basic MED-PC® Programs: An Introduction to the Med Associates Inc. Behavioral Research Interface and An Introduction to Behavioral Research Protocol Programming: Getting Started with MED-PC®

July 29–30, 2010
St. Albans, VT
$350 (SOLD OUT)
Course Complete

The first day of this course introduces the novice MED-PC® user, or potential user, to running basic behavioral test protocols using our powerful and flexible MED-PC® Research Control and Data Acquisition software. Software and equipment installation will be covered.

The second day teaches the basics of writing MedState Notation™ programs to control your behavioral experiments. Instruction will be provided by following the exercises in the MED-PC® Programmer’s Guide. If you already have worked on your own MedState Notation™ programs, be prepared to bring examples of them, or bring the details of your behavioral experiments. This will allow you to practice using your own protocols and procedures. Med Associates staff will teach this course.

An Introduction to Behavioral Research Protocol Programming: Getting Started with MED-PC®

November 15, 2010
San Diego, CA
$350

This course is geared towards the beginner user of Med Associates operant conditioning equipment, including the powerful MED-PC® software. During the first part of the workshop, attendees will learn about the structure of a Med Associates operant conditioning system, including how to set up a system using the student trainer interfaces (laptop computer, MED-PC® software, USB interface, trainer conditioning panel) that will be available to all attendees at the workshop. During the second part of the workshop, students will write their own procedures using the tutorials and exercises in the MED-PC® programmer's manual as a guide. If you have already worked on your own MedState Notation programs, you can bring examples of them, or bring the details of your behavioral experiments. This will allow you to practice using your own protocols and procedures.

This course will be taught by Med Associates staff. Course enrollment is limited, so sign up early to ensure your spot. Scholarships for a 50% tuition discount are available to attendees from academic institutions. Click here for our scholarship form.
This course will be held at the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, located conveniently within walking distance to the 2010 annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.

Dr. Stephen Anagnostaras obtained his PhD in Psychology in Dr. Michael Fanselow's laboratory of at the University of California, Los Angeles, studying the neural basis of Pavlovian fear conditioning. After completing his graduate studies, Dr. Anagnostaras went on to train as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Professor Alcino Silva at UCLA. He is a well-respected young scientist and already has several high-impact publications in the field. He has taught undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in the Neurosciences, as well as serving as Course Organizer for the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Summer Course on Mouse Behavioral Analysis.

The general aim of Dr. Anagnostaras' research is to combine the molecular-genetic, systems, and cognitive-behavioral levels to understand how the brain produces behavior and cognition. A major emphasis in this endeavor is bridging systems and molecular approaches using hippocampus-dependent learning, in particular, learning about context. The hippocampal-neocortical memory system offers an excellent opportunity in which the molecular and cognitive levels may be first plainly joined. Long-term objectives of Dr. Anagnostaras' research are to advance our understandings of the mechanisms of memory, cognition, and drug addiction.

Stephan G. Anagnostaras, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of
Psychology, University of
California, San Diego

Integration of Molecular
Genetics and Cognitive

Dr. Gerry Herrera obtained his PhD in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics from The University of Vermont (UVM) in 2001, where he studied smooth muscle excitation-contraction coupling. He is an expert in muscle physiology, specializing in the smooth muscle that lines hollow organs. Dr. Herrera is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Pharmacology at UVM, and maintains active research collaborations with academic colleagues. His research interests include the physiology and pathophysiology of the urinary bladder, smooth muscle excitation-contraction coupling, electrophysiology of smooth muscle cells, cellular calcium signal transduction pathways, and integrative physiology. Dr. Herrera joined Med Associates full-time in early 2004. Since that time, he has been involved with new product development, contract research, and technical writing. Dr. Herrera has served on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at UVM since 2001, and is also a member of the IACUC at Med Associates.

Curriculum Vitae

Gerald M. Herrera, PhD

President, Catamount Research and Development

Vice President of Research and Development, Med Associates