Faculty Profile

Neuroscience Faculty

 

Ruth Fabian-Fine

Title: Assistant Professor Biology and Neuroscience

Degree: M.Sc., Ph.D.

 

Ari Kirshenbaum

Title: Associate Professor of Psychology, Krikstone Laboratory for the Behavioral Sciences

Degree: PhD

 

Crystal L'Hôte

Title: Associate Professor of Philosophy

Degree: PhD

 

Anthony Richardson

Title: Associate Professor of Psychology

Degree: PhD

 

Melissa VanderKaay Tomasulo

Title: Director of the Neuroscience Program, Associate Professor of Psychology

Degree: PhD

 

Adam Weaver

Title: Associate Professor of Biology and Neuroscience

Degree: PhD

Ari Kirshenbaum, PhD

Associate Professor of Psychology, Krikstone Laboratory for the Behavioral Sciences

Ph.D. University of Montana, Missoula
B.A. University of Colorado, Boulder

Post-Doctoral Scientist, NASA Ames Research Center
Post-Doctoral Scientist, University of Vermont, College of Medicine

Areas of Expertise:

Animal behavior and psychopharmacology

Courses I Teach:

  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Research Methods II
  • Animal Learning and Behavior
  • Drugs and Behavior

Publications:

Kirshenbaum, A.P. (in press). Involvement of opioid receptors in nicotine-related reinforcement and pleasure. A chapter in: Neuroscience of Nicotine: Mechanisms and Treatment, (V. Preedy, Ed). Elsevier Press.

DiTommaso, T., Kirshenbaum, A.P., Parent, B. (in press). Physicians’ attitudes, concerns, and procedural understanding of Medical Aid-in-Dying in Vermont. The Dalhousie Law Journal.

Trachtman, H., Parent, B.S., Kirshenbaum, A.P., & Caplan, A., (in press). Physician’s attitudes toward living kidney donation. Progress in Transplantation.

Kirshenbaum, A. P., Suhaka, J. A., Phillips, J. L., & Voltolini de Souza Pinto, M. (2016). Nicotine enhancement and reinforcer devaluation: Interaction with opioid receptors. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 150, 1-7.

Lipatova, O., Wiener, N., Andrews, K., Kirshenbaum, A., Green, J., & Toufexis, D. (2015). 17β-estradiol replacement in ovariectomized female rats slows Set 1 dorsolateral striatial-dependent learning and enhances learning of Set 2 in an extra-dimensional set-shifting paradigm. Behavioral Neuroscience, 130(1): 44-49.

Kirshenbaum, A.P., Green, J.T., Fay, M., Stone, J., Phillips, J., Parks, A., & Roy, T. (2015) Reinforcer devaluation as a consequence of acute nicotine administration and withdrawal. Psychopharmacology, 232(9):1583-94.

Kirshenbaum, A.P., Jackson, E.J., Brown, S., Fuchs, J., Miltner, B., & Doughty, A. (2011). Nicotine-induced impulsive action: Sensitization and attenuation by mecamylamine. Behavioural Pharmacology, 22(3), 207-221.

Kirshenbaum, A.P., Johnson, M.W., Schwarz S.L., & Jackson, E.J. (2009). Response disinhibition evoked by the administration of nicotine and nicotine-associated contextual cues. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 105, 97-108.

Kirshenbaum, A.P., Brown, S., Hughes, D., & Doughty, A. (2008). DRL schedules and nicotine administration: A systematic evaluation of dose and schedule requirement. Behavioural Pharmacology, 19(7) 683-697.

Kirshenbaum, A.P., Bickel, W.K., & Olsen, A. (2008). A quantitative analysis of the ubiquitous substance-abuse relapse curve. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 36(1), 8-17.

Kirshenbaum, A.P., Bickel, W.K., & Boynton, D.M. (2006). Opioid withdrawal engenders risk-prone choice: A comparison of intranasal and intravenous-using populations. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 83, 130-136.

Johnson, M.W., Bickel, W.K., Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2004). Substitutes for tobacco smoking: A behavioral economic analysis of nicotine gum, denicotinized cigarettes, and nicotine-containing cigarettes. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 74, 253-264.

Recent Presentations:

Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2018). The public health consequences of e-cigarettes: What we do, and do not, know. Invited talk, delivered to the Vermont Department of Public Health and the Tobacco Control Council.

Kirshenbaum, A., DiTommaso, T. (2017). Physician’s attitudes regarding aid-in-dying in Vermont. International Congress on End-of-Life Law, Ethics, and Policy. Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Toufexis, D., Shoenberg, H., & Kirshenbaum, A. (2017). Effects of estradiol and methamphetamine exposure on habit formation in rats. Society for Neurosciences, San Diego, CA.

Kirshenbaum, A., Kristofik, A., & Toufexis, D. (2017). Nicotine pretreatment increases sensitivity to extinction. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Florence, Italy.

Suhaka, J. & Kirshenbaum, A. (2016) Reinforcement enhancement and devaluation by nicotine: Interactions with opioid receptors. Association for Behavior Analysis International annual convention, Chicago, IL.

Kirshenbaum, A., Stone, J., & Phillips, J. (2014). Reinforcer devaluation during nicotine withdrawal. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Seattle, WA.

Stone, J., Parks, A., Phillips, J., Suhaka, J., Roy, T., & Kirshenbaum, A. (2014). Emergence of nicotine-induced anxiogenesis during withdrawal on the elevated plus-maze. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting. Boston, MA.

Phillips, J., Parks, A., Stone, J., Suhaka, J., Roy, T., & Kirshenbaum, A. (2014). Nicotine induces alterations on FR-schedule responding maintained by a visual stimulus. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.

Roy, T., Parks, A., Phillips, J., Stone, J., Suhaka, J., Kirshenbaum, A. (2014) Behavioral depression induced by nicotine: Environmental context is a strong moderator. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting, Boston, MA.

Kirshenbaum, A., Fay, M., Giglio, S., Hyland, M., & Roy, T. (2013). Conditioned inhibition and nicotine-induced amotivation. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Boston, MA.

Kirshenbaum, A., Hyland, M., Giglio, S., Roy, T., & Fay, M. (2012). Evidence for cholinergic enhancement of memory reconsolidation using a tickle-induced CPP. Society for Neurosciences, annual conference, New Orleans, LA.

Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2013). Nicotine's role in memory and amotivation: Applications to affective and tobacco-dependence disorders. Invited Talk, Psychology Dept., Graduate Bio-Behavioral Cluster Seminar, University of Vermont.

Fay, M., Giglio, S., Hyland, M., Roy, T., & Kirshenbaum, A. (2013) Nicotine-Induced amotivation: A result of conditioned inhibition? Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting. New York City, NY.

Giglio, S., Fay, M., Hyland, M., Roy, T., & Kirshenbaum, A. (2013) Social hierarchy and PR performance in rats: Effects of psychomotor stimulants on motivated behavior. Eastern Psychological Association, New York City, NY.

Roy, T. Giglio, S., Fay, M., Hyland, M., & Kirshenbaum, A. (2013) Nicotine induced amotivation is related to nicotinic-acetylcholine receptor activation. Eastern Psychological Association, New York City, NY.

Longchamp, S., & Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2012). Exercise as a determinant of tolerance and sensitization to nicotine. American Psychological Society annual meeting, Chicago, IL.

Longchamp, S., & Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2011). History of reinforcement determines breakpoint on a progressive-ratio schedule. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting. Cambridge, MA.

Warhall, A., Longchamp, S., & Kirshenbaum A.P. (2011). Characterization of the dose-response curve: Nicotine and a PR schedule of reinforcement. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting. Cambridge, MA.

Autori, S., Fay, M., Linnell, M. Longchamp, S., Cronise, K., & Kirshenbaum A.P. (2011). Conditioned place preference in rats: Tickle as the unconditioned stimulus and the effects of a consolidation interval. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting. Cambridge, MA.

Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2010). Learning theory and tobacco dependence. Invited Talk, Psychology Dept. Graduate Bio-Behavioral Cluster Seminar, University of Vermont.

Kirshenbaum, A. P., Fuchs, J., & Miltner, B. (2010). Response disinhibition evoked by cholinergic activation: Results from a tandem VI-DRL schedule and stop-signal task. Division 28, American Psychological Association, Annual Convention, San Diego, CA.

Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2010). Cue-induced impulsivity: Implications for drug dependence relapse. Invited Talk, Biology Dept. Colloquia, Middlebury College.

Kirshenbaum, A.P., Collins, R., Lavelle, M, Garthwait, K., Thibodeau, H., & Rabe, E. (2010). Nicotine administration and progressive-ratio schedule performance. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting. Brooklyn, NY.

Fuchs, J., Warhall, A., & Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2010). Tolerance and sensitization to d-amphetamine on the DRL17.5-s schedule. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting. Brooklyn, NY.

Miltner, B., Fuchs, J., & Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2010). Context and drug-induced response disinhibition: A comparison of nicotine and d-amphetamine. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting. Brooklyn, NY.

Collins, R., Lavelle, M., & Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2010). Hypothetical drug-induced states and delay discounting in stimulant using college students. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting. Brooklyn, NY.

Kirshenbaum, A.P., et al. (2010). Balancing Teaching, Research, and Service. Panel discussion, Vermont Genetics Network annual workshop, Colchester, Vermont.

Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2009). Response disinhibition evoked by cholinergic activation and contextual conditioning. Vermont Genetics Network Annual Symposium, South Burlington, Vermont.

Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2009). Tolerance and sensitization on a tandem VI-DRL schedule. University of Vermont, Biobehavioral summit, Burlington, Vermont.

Kirshenbaum, A.P., Schwarz, S. & Brown, S.J. (2009). Context-dependent perturbations in DRL schedule performance. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA.

Jackson, E.J., Brown, S.J., Adamo, C., & Kirshenbaum A.P. (2009). Response disinhibition induced by nicotine administration I: Stop-task performance and sensitization. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA.

Brown, S.J., Jackson, E.J., Adamo, C., Miltner, B., & Kirshenbaum A.P. (2009). Response disinhibition induced by nicotine administration II: VI-DRL performance and sensitization. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting. Pittsburgh, PA.

Adamo, C, Fuchs, J., & Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2009). Manipulations of motivation engender differential DRL-schedule performance. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting.

Kirshenbaum, A.P., Brown, S.J., & Schwarz, S. (2008). Tandem VI-DRL schedule performance in response to psychostimulant administration. Division 28, American Psychological Association, Annual Convention, Boston, MA.

Schwarz, S., Brown, S.J., & Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2008). A comparison of reinforcer magnitude and nicotine administration manipulations on DRL-schedule performance. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting , Boston, MA.

Brown, S.J., Schwarz, S., & Kirshenbaum, A.P. (2008). The effects of chronic versus acute dosing regimens of nicotine on impulsive behaviors in rats. Eastern Psychological Association, Annual Meeting. , Boston, MA.

Kirshenbaum, A.P., Hughes, D.H., & Brown, S.J. (2007). DRL performance and nicotine administration: A systematic investigation of dose and schedule requirement. Paper presentation, International Study Group Investigating Drugs as Reinforcers, College of the Problems on Drug Dependence, Quebec City, Quebec

Murphy, M.J., Kirshenbaum, A.P., & Vanderkaay, M. (2007). Psychophysiological Measurement of Human Sexual Attraction Based on Fertility Status Detected through Odor Changes across the Female Life Span. New England Evolutionary Psychology Society annual conference.

 
 

Grant Awards:

2017 National Institutes of Health: R15DA043045 
Title: An experimental evaluation of e-cigarettes in young adults 
Role: Principal Investigator 

2012-2013 Vermont Genetics Network, Project Grant
Title: Nicotine-induced amotivation: An animal model of tobacco withdrawal 
Role: Principal Investigator 

2008-2010 Vermont Genetics Network, Project Grant 
Title: Psychomotor-stimulant induced sensitization of impulsive behavior 
Role: Principal Investigator 

2005 Vermont Genetics Network, Pilot Grant Funding Award 
Role: Principal Investigator

STUDENT GRANTS, ADVISED

2017 VPAA student summer-stipend grant, Saint Michael’s College 
Emily Chabot 
Title: Proof of concept: Startle and habituation in zebra fish 

2016 Psychology Department Research Grant 
Karin Parodi 
Title: Cholinergic function of habituation in zebra fish as a model of ADHD 

2015 VPAA student summer-stipend grant, Saint Michael’s College 
Jesse Suhaka 
Title: The role of opioid receptor blockade in reinforcement enhancement and devaluation 

2014 Psychology Department Research Grant 
Allyson Kristofik 
Title: Nicotine’s effect on habit formation 

2013 Vermont Genetics Network, summer stipend 
Jason Stone 
Title: Repeated nicotine administration and the elevated-plus maze 

2011 VPAA student summer-stipend grant, Saint Michael’s College 
Susan Longchamp 
Title: The influence of forced exercise and nicotine on PR-schedule performance in rats. 

2010 Psi Chi Honors Society in Psychology 
Betsie Miltner 
Title: Impulsivity measured by DRL schedules: An evaluation of tobacco withdrawal in dependent smokers

2008 Vermont Genetic Network, summer stipend 
Eric Jackson 
Title: Measuring nicotine-induced impulsivity using a stop-signal task in rats 

2008 Psi Chi Honors Society in Psychology 
Sarah Schwarz 
Title: Chronic Nicotine Administration and Context-Dependent Impulsivity 

2007 Vermont Genetic Network, summer stipend 
Seth J. Brown 
Title: Chronic nicotine administration in rats: Promotion of impulsive behavior or key to behavioral tolerance? 

2006 Psi Chi Honors Society in Psychology 
Megan J. Murphy 
Title: Psychophysiological Measurement of Human Sexual Attraction Based on Fertility Status Detected through Odor Changes across the Female Life Span 

2006 Vermont Genetic Network, summer stipend 
David M. Hughes 
Title: The effect of nicotine on an operant test of impulsivity in rats

 
 

Life Off Campus:

I live in a small mountain town and enjoy all of the outdoor activities the Green Mountains have to offer (ski, snowshoe, hike, fish, hike, bike the country roads, hike, ski some more, etc.). I also like to cook, play mandolin, paint, build stuff out of wood and brew ale.  

Ari Kirshenbaum, associate professor of psychology, reports several recent publications with his student collaborators. Here are the citations:  Kirshenbaum, A.P., Chabot, E., & Gibney, N. (in press). “Startle, pre-pulse sensitization, and habituation in zebrafish. Journal of Neuroscience Methods”;  DiTommaso, T., Kirshenbaum, A.P., Parent, B. (in press), “Physicians’ attitudes, concerns, and procedural understanding of Medical Aid-in-Dying in Vermont” (The Dalhousie Law Journal); Trachtman, H., Parent, B.S., Kirshenbaum, A.P., & Caplan, A., (in press). “Physician’s attitudes toward living kidney donation. Progress in Transplantation.”; Kirshenbaum, A.P. (in press). “Involvement of opioid receptors in nicotine-related reinforcement and pleasure.” (A chapter in: Neuroscience of Nicotine: Mechanisms and Treatment, (V. Preedy, Ed). Elsevier Press. This is a book chapter in an edited, invitation-only handbook. Ari also will be making a presentation at the Eastern Psychological Association (February, 2019) on “E-cigarettes and video gaming: An experimental evaluation of nicotine enhancement in young adults,” which will share preliminary results from his study utilizing a major National Institutes of Health grant (Ari Kirshenbaum, PhD, John Hughes, MD, Anthony Richardson, PhD, Emily Chabot, Hannah Geick, Nick Gibney, & Matt Mosher) Ari also was in the November 20 Burlington Free Press, which featured as the lead front-page headlined story of the issue (and jumping inside with several large photos) a piece about e-cigarette use. Other media sought his expertise on e-cigarettes too: WCAX Channel 3 Local TV news on September 14 aired a piece about rising concerns over “e-cigarettes” and their popularity among youth -- something the FDA is calling an “epidemic”; and, Ari was a guest in September on Waterbury radio station WDEV's The Dave Gram Show, a news call-in show, to talk about the same issue.
(posted January 2019)

Ari Kirshenbaum, associate professor of psychology, was on Burlington-area TV news in January explaining recent national news of interest about a new study out Tuesday on vaping which says teenagers who smoke e-cigarettes may be at a higher risk of switching to traditional smoking. Ari, as the report notes, studies e-cigarette use.
(posted June 2018)

Ari Kirshenbaum, professor of psychology, this semester learned he received a $365,865 grant from the National Institutes of Health to support his research on the abuse potential of E-cigarettes in young adults. The news attracted widespread local media attention including an extended interview on Vermont Public Radio, items on local TV news, and stories in several area newspapers.
(posted December 2017)

Ari Kirshenbaum, associate professor of psychology, recently collaborated with three students,  A. P., Suhaka, J. A., Phillips, J. L., & Voltolini de Souza Pinto, M., on a paper, “Nicotine enhancement and reinforcer devaluation: Interaction with opioid receptors,” that was published in the journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry, & Behavior. (150, 1-7, 2016). Also, one of those co-author students, Jesse Suhaka and Ari presented a paper in May on the same topic at the Association for Behavior Analysis International annual convention in Chicago, IL. The experiment behind both the paper and presentation was performed on rats to assess the degree to which opioid receptors are involved in tobacco dependence and withdrawal. Opioid receptors are the neurotransmitter receptors that, when activated, allow us to feel pleasure and avoid pain.
(posted November 2016)

Ari Kirshenbaum, associate professor of psychology and coordinator of the Krikstone Laboratory for the Behavioral Sciences and of the Pre-Pharmacy Degree, recently had a paper that he co-authored with five Saint Michael’s students, ‘Reinforcer devaluation as a product of acute nicotine exposure and nicotine withdrawal,” accepted for publication in the journal Psychopharmacology. His student co-authors are Michael Fay ’13, Angelique Parks ’14, Jessie Phillips ’14, Tessa Roy ’14 and Jason Stone ’14. Many more students are listed by name in the “acknowledgements” section of the paper, too.
(posted December 2014)

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