University of Oregon View Institution's Website 6 articles published in JoVE Neuroscience Assessing Corticospinal Excitability During Goal-Directed Reaching Behavior Isaac N. Gomez1, Serena R. Orsinger1, Hyosub E. Kim2, Ian Greenhouse1 1Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, 2Department of Physical Therapy/Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware Reaching is a fundamental skill that allows humans to interact with the environment. Several studies have aimed to characterize reaching behavior using a variety of methodologies. This paper offers an open-source application of transcranial magnetic stimulation to assess the state of corticospinal excitability in humans during reaching task performance. Behavior A Cross-Disciplinary and Multi-Modal Experimental Design for Studying Near-Real-Time Authentic Examination Experiences Idalis Villanueva1, Jenefer Husman3, Darcie Christensen1, Kate Youmans1, Md Tarique Khan1, Paul Vicioso2, Shawn Lampkins3, Matthew C. Graham3 1Department of Engineering Education, College of Engineering, Utah State University, 2Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Utah State University, 3Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education, University of Oregon An experimental design was developed to investigate the real-time influences of an examination experience to assess the emotional realities students experience in higher education settings and tasks. This design is the result of a cross-disciplinary (e.g., educational psychology, biology, physiology, engineering) and multi-modal (e.g., salivary markers, surveys, electrodermal sensor) approach. Neuroscience A Guide to In vivo Single-unit Recording from Optogenetically Identified Cortical Inhibitory Interneurons Alexandra K. Moore1, Michael Wehr1 1Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon Here we describe our strategy for obtaining stable, well-isolated single-unit recordings from identified inhibitory interneurons in the anesthetized mouse cortex. Neurons expressing ChR2 are identified by their response to blue light. The method uses standard extracellular recording equipment, and serves as an inexpensive alternative to calcium imaging or visually-guided patching. Neuroscience Neural Circuit Recording from an Intact Cockroach Nervous System Josh S. Titlow1, Zana R. Majeed1,2, H. Bernard Hartman3, Ellen Burns1, Robin L. Cooper1 1Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, 2Department of Biology, University of Salahaddin, 3Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, University of Oregon This article describes the cockroach ventral nerve cord dissection and extracellular recordings from the cercal nerve and connectives. Evoked responses are generated by electrical stimulation of the cercal nerve or direct mechanical stimulation of the cerci. Neuroscience Proprioception and Tension Receptors in Crab Limbs: Student Laboratory Exercises Zana R. Majeed1,2, Josh Titlow1,2, H. Bernard Hartman3, Robin Cooper1,2 1Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, 2Center of Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, 3Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, University of Oregon Physiological and anatomical techniques are demonstrated to address function and structure for joint proprioceptors and muscle tension receptors in crustacean walking limbs. Biology Making Gynogenetic Diploid Zebrafish by Early Pressure Charline Walker1, Greg S. Walsh2, Cecilia Moens2 1Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 2Division of Basic Science, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center - FHCRC This is a method for generating gynogenetic diploid zebrafish embryos (embryos whose only genetic contribution comes from the mother) by blocking the second meiotic division immediately after fertilization with ultraviolet light-inactivated sperm. EP embryos are not fully homozygous due to recombination during the first meiotic division, however they are homozygous at all loci that have not been separated from their centromere by recombination.