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Robert Leaton



Leaton

Professor Robert Leaton, Ph.D., Yale University, 1963

Brain mechanisms underlying behavioral change, especially the change associated with habituation and conditioning.

Two major areas of research focus:

  1. Acoustic startle response: long-term habituation, associated cardiovascular changes, sensitization, and the modulating effects of fear conditioning.
  2. Assessment of medial cerebellar damage with particularly attention to the "emotional" changes associated with cerebellar damage.

Current and Future Classes: Winter 2003 - PBS 81 Drugs & Behavior

Contact Information:

Department of Psychological and Brain Science
6207 Moore Hall
Hanover, NH 03755
Office: (603) 646-3183
264 Moore
Lab: (603) 646-0057
robert.leaton@dartmouth.edu

Office Hours: 9-10 MWF

Selected publications:

  • Leaton, R. N. and J. M. Kelso. The auditory pathways: Startle amplitude and fear in an acoustic startle response paradigm in rats. Psychobiology, 2000, in press.
  • Pilz, P. K. D., & R. N. Leaton. Short-term and long-term habituation of the acoustic startle response as a function of stimulus rise time in rats. Psychobiology, 1999, 27(3), 402-414.
  • Young, B. J. & Leaton, R. N. (1996). Amygdala central nucleus lesions attenuate acoustic startle stimulus-evoked heart-rate changes in rats. Behavioral Neuroscience, 1996, 110, 228-237.
  • Leaton, R. N. Comment on Schicatano and Blumenthal (1994): Habituation or sensitization. Psychobiology, 1995, 23, 85-86.
  • Young, B. J., & Leaton, R. N. Fear potentiation of acoustic startle stimulus-evoked heart-rate changes in rats. Behavioral Neuroscience, 1994, 108, 1065-1079.