Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

9-2025

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Program

Cognitive Neuroscience

Advisor

Peter Serrano

Committee Members

Tony Ro

David Johnson

Abstract

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a significant public health concern, often leading to cognitive and emotional impairments. This study examined the effects of TBI on working memory and anxiety-like behavior in young male Sprague-Dawley rats using the Radial Arm Maze (RAM) and Elevated Plus Maze (EPM), which are behavioral assessments. The RAM tests spatial working memory by evaluating the animal’s ability to remember and efficiently navigate multiple arms to retrieve rewards. The EPM assesses anxiety-like behavior based on the animal’s preference for open versus closed arms. The study utilized young male Sprague-Dawley rats, a well-established rodent model known for its consistent responses in neurobehavioral research and relevance to human neurological conditions. At the time of experimentation, the subjects were 8–10 weeks old and weighed between 150 and 250g. TBI was induced in rats using the Controlled Cortical Impact (CCI) model under anesthesia and aseptic conditions. The rats were tested 4-5 weeks post-TBI. The study tested two hypotheses: that TBI negatively affects working memory performance and that TBI induces heightened anxiety-like behavior. This study's data was non-significant and showed no evidence that TBI would cause short-term working memory deficits, as both the TBI and No-TBI groups performed poorly in the later trials. However, TBI rats spent significantly more time in closed arms, suggesting increased anxiety-like behavior compared to controls, while the rest of the data were statistically insignificant. These findings support the hypothesis. The results contribute to the growing body of research on TBI-induced cognitive and emotional dysfunction, reinforcing the need for targeted rehabilitation strategies. Future research should explore potential sex differences, track long-term recovery, incorporate neuroimaging techniques to identify neural mechanisms, and investigate therapeutic interventions such as pharmacological treatments, cognitive training, and non-invasive neuromodulation. Addressing these gaps will enhance the understanding of TBI’s long-term effects and aid in developing practical treatment approaches.

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