Carthage neuroscience students present at Chicago Chapter Society for Neuroscience

Three Carthage neuroscience students presented novel research findings at the Chicago Society for Neuroscience meeting, which took place March 21, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Bo Anderson ’25 at the Chicago Chapter Society for Neuroscience meeting.Bo Anderson ’25 presented a poster titled “Neurobehavioral Plasticity in the Rodent Gustatory System Induced by Regular Consumption of a Low-Calorie Sweetener During Adolescence,” which highlighted his independent research conducted with Professor Sarah Terrill. His project focused on understanding how low-calorie sweeteners (artificial sweeteners) consumed during a critical developmental period impact taste preference and the brain’s reward system later on in life. Bo and Prof. Terrill recently published this work in Scientific Reports, an open access Nature Portfolio Journal that publishes original research from across all areas of the natural sciences.

Kristie Endresen ’25 and Mary Barclay ’26 at the Chicago Chapter Society for Neuroscience meeting.Kristie Endresen ’25 and Mary Barclay ’26 highlighted data they collected in Prof. Terrill’s Advance Research Methods in Neuroscience fall 2024 course in their presentation: “Effect of ICV Irisin on Chow Intake and Sucrose Preference in Sprague Dawley Rats.” This research project involved students surgically implanting cannulas to deliver a hormone called irisin directly into the brain in rats. Physiologically, irisin is released in response to exercise and impacts metabolism and fat burning. Through their research, Kristie and Mary found that when irisin was injected directly into the brain, this exercise hormone can decrease food intake and decrease preference for sugar.

Both of these projects highlight clinically relevant findings on how different systems influence dietary preferences, shedding light on their significant impact on individual health outcomes and broader societal health trends, particularly in relation to obesity and the increased propensity to consume high-sugar foods.

Sponsoring Department, Office, or Organization:

Neuroscience Department