Date of Submission
Spring 2020
Academic Program
Biology
Project Advisor 1
Arseny Khakhalin
Abstract/Artist's Statement
This project was written under a global pandemic that has caused humans to completely change the way they live. Now is the time to re-learn different tools in order to adjust to the new normal. Everyone is now unlearning the previous way of life and re-learning new ways to adapt to our current situation. My Senior Project questions if change also exists on a neuro-behavioral level. I explored how behavior could be changed by inducing neuroplasticity in the brain. One of the ways plasticity can occur is by using HDI, these are chemical compounds that change the structure of genes. VPA is classified as histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDI) which affects the regulation of gene expression. VPA which is used in frontline medications for mental illnesses like seizures and bipolar disorder.
The process of being exposed to VPA may give rise to neuronal plasticity in Xenopus tadpoles through the perturbation of gene structure. Tadpoles exposed to VPA may change the way they avoid collision to an on-coming object. Further research into this subject could potentially lead us to reshape learning and unlearning for animals and humans alike.
Open Access Agreement
On-Campus only
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Tariq, Sana, "Inducing Learning and Unlearning in Xenopus Laevis through collision avoidance using Valproic Acid" (2020). Senior Projects Spring 2020. 82.
https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/senproj_s2020/82
This work is protected by a Creative Commons license. Any use not permitted under that license is prohibited.
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