The research focus of the project titled, 'Molecular Mechanism of Risky Decision Making in Mice Pilot Study' is to better understand the molecular machinery of risky decision making behavior by examining gene expression of the regions of interest involved in this behavior such as the basolateral amygdala and the nucleus accumbens. 

Past research has shown that risky decision making behavior is common amongst neuropsychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia, substance use disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This negatively impacts the life of several individuals with these disorders. Furthermore, research studies have found regions of interest with risky decision making behavior such as the basolateral amygdala and nucleus accumbens. In this research project, we utilize mice as they are more commonly used for genomic studies research and the focus of the study is understanding gene expression in these regions of interest. In the project, there is two parts to the methods or analysis section. The first section of the project focuses on training mice through the risky decision making task and obtaining behavior analysis.  The second part focuses on molecular analysis, where the mice are sacrificed and regions of interest are extracted for single-nuclei RNA sequencing as a method of identifying differences in transcription related to the behavior tasks. 

In this research project, I was responsible for aiding in the organization and prepping of the research experiment. For example, I was present for meetings related to buying the mice, implementation of the risky behavior task, and obtaining certificate training on handling mice. Once, I gained certification, I began working with one other person or by myself to train the mice on the risky behavior task in the specialized chambers. This would consists of weighing, feeding, cleaning, keeping daily logs, running the mice, and data storage for behavior analysis. Once the risky behavior tasks were completed, I was responsible for being present during the sacrificing. Once sacrificed, I worked with my research team on performing cryostat and tissue punches of the regions of interest, the basolateral amygdala and the nucleaus accumbens for molecular anyalsis.