The Student Surgeon: A Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Laboratory Exercise in Rats
By Meg E. Kirkpatrick

This article describes a two-part laboratory module taught at Wheaton College and provides resources to allow instructors to recreate this module at their own institutions. This module introduces students to basic surgical techniques and allows for in-depth discussion of 1) effects of hormones on behavior, 2) ethics of animal use in research, 3) psychopharmacology, 4) experimental design and 5) empirical data collection. This exercise provides students with the opportunity to replicate a classic behavioral neuroendocrinology study while developing critical thinking, experimental design and empirical data collection skills.

Key words: hormones; ovariectomy; lordosis; sexual receptivity; proceptivity; estrogen; progesterone.

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