Donald J. Stehouwer
Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
University of Florida

310 Psychology Building

Telephone:    273-2168
Fax:         392-7985
Office hours:  Fridays 9:30-11:30 a.m.
or by appointment

Education

    B.S.            Psychology        Michigan State University        1969-1973
    M.A.           Psychology        Princeton University                 1973-1975
    Ph.D.          Psychology        Princeton University                 1975-1978
    Post-doc     Physiology         University of North Carolina     1978-1982

  Courses Taught

Undergraduate

    PSY 2013  General Psychology
    PSB 3002  Physiological Psychology
    PSB 3340  Behavioral Neuroscience
    PSB 4504  Developmental Psychobiology
    PSB 4104  Laboratory in Physiological Psychology
    PSY 4930   Drugs and Society

Graduate

    PSB 6082  Neuroethology
    PSB 6087  Advanced Physiological Psychology
    PSB 6088  Behavioral Neurobiology
    PSB 6099  Survey of Physiological and Comparative Psychology
    PSB 7248  Neurobehavioral Relations (Developmental Psychobiology)
    PSB 7249  Seminar in Neural Mechanisms and Behavior (Classical Papers in Behavioral Neuroscience)

Research

Developmental Psychobiology;  Motor Systems

My research interests focus on the development of the nervous system and behavior. I am particularly interested in problems of motor control. Past research in our laboratory focused on changes in central nervous system organization and locomotor behavior in amphibian metamorphosis. Students in my laboratory are currently studying development of locomotion and its neural control in infant rats. We use kinematic analyses to study the details of movement, and electrophysiological, neuropharmacological, neurosurgical and neuroanatomical techniques to understand the development of the underlying neural controls. Electrophysiological techniques include electromyographic and electroneurographic recordings; neuropharmacological techniques include injections of neurotransmitter agonists and antagonists and lesions produced by chemical neurotoxins; neurosurgical manipulations include spinal transections and decerebrations; neuroanatomical techniques include histological stains (e.g. Nissl stains, myelin stains) and tract-tracing techniques (e.g. horseradish peroxidase, Fluoro-Gold). Through convergence of studies using these different techniques, we hope to gain a better understanding of how motor systems develop and are organized in adulthood. This information will help us understand developmental motor disabilities, degenerative diseases involving motor systems, and how to maximize recovery of function following traumatic injury to the nervous system.
 
 

Representative Publications:

• Staup, M.A. & Stehouwer, D.J. (2006) Ontogeny of L-DOPA-induced locomotion:  Expression of c-Fos in the brainstem and basal ganglia of rats.  Brain Research, 1068, 56-64.

• McEwen, M.L. & Stehouwer, D.J. (2001) Kinematics of L-DOPA-induced air-stepping of neonatal rats following mid-thoracic spinal cord compression.  Journal of Neurotrauma, 18, 1383-1397. 

• Tucker, L.B. & Stehouwer, D.J. (2000) L-DOPA-induced air-stepping in the preweanling rat:  Electromyographic and kinematic analyses.  Behavioral Neuroscience, 114, 1174-1182.   

• Stehouwer, D.J. & Van Hartesveldt, C.  (2000)  Kinematic analysis of air-stepping in decerebrate preweanling rats.  Developmental Psychobiology, 36, 1-9.

• McEwen, M.L., Van Hartesveldt, C. & Stehouwer, D.J. (1999) The NMDA antagonist, MK-801, alters L-DOPA-induced air-stepping in neonatal rats .  Developmental Brain Research, 115, 33-40.

• McCrea, A.E., Stehouwer, D.J. & Van Hartesveldt, C. (1997) Dopamine D1 and D2 antagonists block L -DOPA-induced air-stepping in decerebrate neonatal rats.  Developmental Brain Research, 100, 130-132.   

• McEwen, M.L., Van Hartesveldt, C. & Stehouwer, D.J. (1997) A kinematic comparison of L -DOPA-induced air-stepping and swimming in developing rats.  Developmental Psychobiology, 30, 313-327. 

• McEwen, M., Van Hartesveldt, C. & Stehouwer, D.J. (1997) L-DOPA and quipazine elicit air-stepping in neonatal rats with spinal cord transections.  Behavioral Neuroscience, 111, 825-833. 
  

• Arnaiz, C., Taylor, L.L., Stehouwer, D.J. & Van Hartesveldt, C. (1996) An aromatic L -amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor block L-DOPA-induced air-stepping in neonatal rats. Developmental Brain Research, 94, 234-237. 
  

• Stehouwer, D.J. (1995)   Mathematics of Development.  Developmental Psychobiology, 28, 415. (letter).