SOAR Member Profiles

Sydney Barnett

• SOAR Position: Member
• Major: Psychology & Criminal Justice Administration
• Faculty Mentor(s): Dr. Tiffany Rogers

Current Focus: The effect of intranasal oxytocin on paternal motivation and aggression in C57/Bl/6J mice.

Additional Interests: Neuropsychology.

Project Description

My project aims to discover the relationship between oxytocin and it's effects on paternal motivation and aggression. Oxytocin is a contributor to prosocial behaviors, so I'm looking to see if the experimental mice will exhibit less aggressive behaviors (chasing, lunging, biting, etc) with oxytocin. In addition, oxytocin is known to increase maternal motivation and is one of the many reasons why mothers bond to their children, but there is not much known about paternal motivation. My project is looking to see if oxytocin works similarly in the male brain and if it is one of the factors that contributes to fathers bonding with their children.

Why does this topic interest you?

This interests me because there is not a lot of prior research done on oxytocin's effect on paternal motivation. I know that my research isn't going to solve the entire issue, but any little bit of information gained from my research is a step in the right direction! The work that I and the rest of the lab put in to answering under researched topics makes me really proud of the work we do to better the scientific community. In addition, it is interesting to see how different chemicals influence behavior.

What are your professional aspirations?

My biggest aspiration is to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology to eventually become a licensed neuropsychologist. I want to work with patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. It is heartbreaking to see so many people suffering from awful diseases, and I believe anything I could do to make their and their family's lives a little bit easier will make everything worth it.

Do you have any advice for future researchers?

Don't doubt your abilities! Your professors will be your biggest support systems and see potential that you might not see.

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