Faculty

Joseph E. Steinmetz
Ph.D., Ohio University, 1983
Professor and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
4012 Haworth
(785) 864-5849; email:

The Steinmetz laboratory is interested in delineating the neural structures and systems involved in mammalian learning and memory. We use a variety of neuroscience techniques including electrophysiology, neuroanatomy, and neuropharmacology to study the involvement of the brain in the acquisition and performance of simple learning and memory paradigms.

Much of our research involves use of the classical eyeblink conditioning preparation in rats and rabbits. We are studying the involvement of the cerebellum in eyeblink conditioning and are currently

1. characterizing the activity of cerebellar neurons during variations of the basic eyeblink conditioning procedure

2. defining the roles of the cerebellar cortex and deep cerebellar nuclei in the conditioning process

3. studying interactions between cerebellar cortex and the deep cerebellar nuclei during conditioning

4. looking at learning differences in human subjects, between clinical and non-clinical populations

We are also studying interactions between the cerebellum and other structures during learning. These experiments include characterizing limbic system involvement in response timing and contextual aspects of eyeblink conditioning, fear conditioning, and operant conditioning.

In collaboration with Charles Goodlett at IUPUI, we are also involved in a series of studies looking at the effects of chronic alcohol exposure in neonatal rats. This preparation effectively models Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), a serious condition that affects normal brain development in human infants and children. There appear to be significant cerebellar and brainstem abnormalities associated with this condition that are paralleled in the rat model. Our ongoing research in this area is helping to elucidate the nature of these abnormalities and associated behavioral deficits.

We also participate in a variety of human conditioning studies. In the past these have included examinations of the acquisition and performance of conditioned eyeblink responses in persons with autism, in MZ and DZ twins, and in subjects with obsessive-compulsive disorders. Current research includes an examination of the electrophysiological correlates of attention during conditioning and eyeblink conditioning in persons with schizophrenia in collaboration with William Hetrick and his laboratory at Indiana University. The latter study also includes functional MRI imaging to assess cerebellar differences that may correlate with conditioning differences.

Representative Publications

• Katz, D. B., Rogers, R. F., and Steinmetz, J. E. (2002).  Novel factors contributing to the expression of latent inhibition. Behavioral Neuroscience, 116(5): 824-836.
• Katz, D. B. and Steinmetz, J. E. (2002).  Psychological functions of the cerebellum. Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Reviews, 1(3):229-241.
• Green, J.T., Johnson, T.B., Goodlett, C.R. and Steinmetz, J.E. (2002). Eyeblink classical conditioning and interpositus nucleus activity are disrupted in adult rats exposed to ethanol as neonates. Learning and Memory, 9, 304-320.
• Green, J.T., Tran, T., Steinmetz, J.E. and Goodlett, C.R. (2002). Neonatal ethanol produces cerebellar deep nuclear cell loss and correlated disruption of eyeblink conditioning in adult rats. Brain Research, 956(2), 302-311.
• Rorick, L.M., Finn, P.R. and Steinmetz, J.E. (2003a). Moderate doses of ethanol partially reverse avoidance learning deficits in high-alcohol-drinking (HAD) rats. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 75, 89-102.
• Rorick, L.M., Finn, P.R. and Steinmetz, J.E. (2003b). High alcohol-drinking (HAD) rats exhibit persistent freezing responses to discrete cues following Pavlovian fear conditioning. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 76, 223-230.
• Blankenship, M.R., Huckfeldt, R., Steinmetz, J.J. and Steinmetz, J.E. (2005). The effects of amygdala lesions on hippocampal activity and classical eyeblink conditioning in rats. Brain Research, 1035(2), 120-130.
• Brown, S.M., Kieffaber, P.D., Carroll, C.A., Vohs, J.L., Tracy, J.A., Shekhar, A., O'Donnell, B.F., Steinmetz, J.E. and Hetrick, W.P. (2005). Eyeblink conditioning deficits indicate timing and cerebellar abnormalities in schizophrenia. Brain and Cognition, 58, 94-108.
• Green, J.T. and Steinmetz, J.E. (2005). Purkinje cell activity in the cerebellar anterior lobe during rabbit eyeblink conditioning. Learning and Memory, 12(3), 260-269.
• Rorick-Kehn, L. M., & Steinmetz, J.E. (2005). Amygdala unit activity during three learning tasks: Eyeblink classical conditioning, Pavlovian fear conditioning and signaled avoidance conditioning. Behavioral Neuroscience, 119(5), 1254-1276.
• Tracy, J.A., McFall, R.M. & Steinmetz, J.E. (2005). Effects of emotional valence and arousal manipulation on eyeblink classical conditioning and autonomic measures. Integrative Physiological and Behavioral Science, 40(1), 45-54.