Grippo Lab, Northern Illinois University
Dr. Angela Grippo’s laboratory is located in the Psychology Department at Northern Illinois University (NIU). Our research is focused on the interactions of stress, emotion, and the heart. Currently we are studying prairie voles, which are interesting rodents that engage in social behaviors similar to humans, including living in family groups and forming life-long social bonds. Our laboratory includes a focus on interdisciplinary, translational research.
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Updated: May 8, 2012 Share this website: |
About our Lab
The research methods that we use include:
- The study of behavior
- Changes in the social environment
- Analysis of circulating hormones
- Analysis of the autonomic nervous system and cardiovascular system
- The study of brain regions and neurotransmitters
We have published several articles describing the research in the Grippo laboratory. The members of the Grippo laboratory include two psychology graduate students, a postdoctoral researcher, and several undergraduate research assistants working towards degrees in psychology, sociology, and biology.
Lab News
Updated May 8, 2012
Congratulations to Neal
Josh, Angela, Neal, & Melissa
May, 2012: Congratulations to Neal, who successfully defended his Master's thesis! Neal's thesis is titled "Short-term disruption of social bonds in prairie voles induces depression-relevant behaviors and altered autonomic regulation of the heart." You can read about his project on our Research page. We're proud of him!
Undergraduate Research and Artistry Day Christina and Rachel
April, 2012: Rachel and Christina attended the Northern Illinois University Undergraduate Research and Artistry Day conference to discuss some of our recent research on stress, social bonds, and hormones. Rachel's poster discussed the positive effects of social support on behavioral and endocrine responses to stress. Christina's poster discussed the role of oxytocin in mediating depressive behaviors following the disruption of social bonds. We are proud of both Rachel and Christina for their excellent presentations! Congratulations also to Christina for winning an Honorable Mention in the poster competition!
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Rachel with her poster
Christina with her award (picture from NIU Media Services, www.niu.edu)
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Experimental Biology Conference
 Josh, Neal, Dr. Peuler, Dr. Grippo
April, 2012: Josh, Neal, and Dr. Grippo attended the Experimental Biology Conference in San Diego. Each poster presentation discussed our new research focused on social bonds, depression, and cardiovascular disease. Neal discussed his research on the negative behavioral, autonomic, and cardiac consequences of disrupting social bonds between male and female prairie voles. Josh discussed his research on the positive behavioral and cardiac effects of re-pairing male and female prairie voles after they have been separated. Congratulations to Josh and Neal for excellent presentations!
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Josh with his poster
Neal with his poster
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