Erin B. Rasmussen, Ph.D.
Associate
Professor, Experimental Psychology
Education
B.S. (1994), Utah State University; M.S. (1999) and Ph.D. (2001), Auburn University.
Research Interests
Research interests are in the area of behavioral pharmacology and toxicology, specifically how prenatal exposure to various teratogens affects behavior across the lifespan of exposed offspring. In the past she has examined how low-level exposure to the toxicant methylmercury affects behavior, with special interest in aging rats. She currently is examining how the endocannabinoid and opioid neurotransmitter systems affect the value of food reinforcement in genetic and environmental (rodent) models of obesity. In addition, she examines decision making with regard to food in humans, as well as factors that influence sensitivity to punishment in humans.
Selected Publications
Rasmussen, E.B., & Huskinson, S. (in press) Effects of rimonabant on behavior maintained by progressive ratio schedules of sucrose reinforcement in obese Zucker (fa/fa) rats. Behavioural Pharmacology.Newland, M.C., & Rasmussen, E.B. (2009) Behavior in adulthood and during aging is affected by contaminant exposure. Current Directions in Developmental Psychology, 3rd ed. Association for Psychological Science. Originally printed in Current Directions in Psychological Science (2003), 12, 212-217.
Rasmussen, E.B., & Newland, M.C. (2008). Asymmetry of reinforcement and punishment in human choice. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 89, 157-168.
Donlin, W., & Rasmussen, E.B. (2008). Behavioral pharmacology. In S. Davis and W. Buskist (Eds) 21st Century Psychology. New York:Sage.
Critchfield, T.S., & Rasmussen, E.B. (2007). It's aversive to have an incomplete science of behavior. Introduction to the special issue on aversive control. Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis, 33,1-6.
Heath, N., Lawyer, S.R., & Rasmussen, E.B. (2007). A comparison of web-based versus pencil-and-paper course evaluations. Teaching of Psychology, 34, 259-261.
Rasmussen, E.B. (2006). Behavior-releasing effects of drugs: Anti-punishment and anti-conflict procedures. Mexican Journal of Behavior Analysis, 32, 73-91.