This past summer, four Tommies worked together to perform experiments and collect data on something that many of us would not normally think about: meth, its anxiety-inducing properties and its effects on mice.

Noah Robinson, Mikayla Newby, Hayley Ortman and Jonathan Acevedo conducted this research on adolescent and adult mice last summer with their professor, Jessica Siegle, from the Psychology and Neuroscience department.

“For me, it’s important to train students on how to do good science,” Siegle said. “I’ve had such wonderful students that I work with, to gain that comfort in their maturity and their ability to actually execute the project without me doing everything with them 100% of the way.”

During their research, the team found that the increased dosage of meth did increase anxiety in the mice, but also found that it encouraged the mice’s other anxious habits, including finding protection in their habitat.

The mice were monitored in a setup space that was built by the students and the mice, over time, got familiar and used the space to find safety.

“The mice reacted as if there was a predator near them while they were on the meth. It was like if they’re like hugging a wall, it’s ‘safer’,” said Robinson. “The methamphetamine, which generally caused them to kind of like run alongside the wall to seek ‘protection’ while they were experiencing anxiety.”

All four students, split into teams of two, have presented their research at various national conferences.

Ortman and Newbie presented at two Society for Neuroscience conferences and found the experience life-changing.

“I would definitely say it’s been amazing,” said Newbie, a St. Thomas senior. “It’s given me the opportunity to go to different poster sessions and conferences, national conferences and present our research.”

Robinson and Acevedo prepared their presentation to present at the Midwestern Psychological Association conference this spring, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robinson enjoys the structure that comes from presenting research.

“I got to put all my focus towards this,” Robinson, St Thomas senior, said. “And I actually really enjoyed it. I think I gained a lot from it.”

Both presentation groups have found that this experience has been life-changing.

“I think if anyone ever wants to go into psychology or neuroscience research, there are definitely opportunities around here. Professors are always doing research,” said Acevedo. “I would recommend that people do that because it’s a great learning experience, you get a different perspective on things.”

Mae Macfarlane can be reached at macf7507@stthomas.edu.