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

 

Mugshot MissingBrains need to breathe, too.

310 Psychology Building

Telephone:    273-2168
Fax:         392-7985

 

Link to U.F. McKnight Brain Institute
Link to I.D.S. Major in Neurobiological Sciences
Link to Neuroscience Club for Undergraduates

 

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 3004  Physiological Psychology
    PSB 3340  Behavioral Neuroscience
    PSB 4504  Developmental Psychobiology
    PSB 4104  Laboratory in Physiological Psychology

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. We have also studied 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).  We have also used immunohistochemistry to detect expression of the early immediate gene, cFos, to identify neurons whose activity is associated with locomotion.  In our amphibian work, we also use in vitro preparations of the isolated CNS.  This preparation allows us to rigorously control the extracellular environment, delivering specified concentrations of neurotransmitters and their selective agonists and antagonists, as well as to manipulate the ionic environment in which the tissue functions.  These studies help elucidate membrane mechanisms that underlie the observed network functions of the CNS.  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 the evolution of vertebrate pedal locomotion, developmental motor disabilities, degenerative diseases involving motor systems, and how to maximize recovery of function following traumatic injury to the nervous system.  

 

Representative Publications: