Consequences of Injury in Newborn Animals on Adult Perception of Pain

Monday, February 27, 2012, 4 p.m. in SC104

Corey Cleland, PhD., Associate Professor of Biology
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

It is well known that our experiences early in life can shape our adult behavior. Baby geese imprint on their mom, children learn foreign languages better if taught early, and brief lack of vision due to an eye patch can result in permanent blindness in the affected eye. These observations raise the question whether the pain and injury inflicted on newborn children by injury or even medical treatment will result in a permanent, altered perception of pain that persists into adulthood. The goal of our research program is to explore the effects of neonatal injury on adult pain perception in a rodent animal model.

Dr. Corey Cleland received his BA in physics from Amherst College and his PhD in neuroscience from Northwestern University. He did his postdoctoral training at the University of Calgary and the University of Iowa. Dr. Cleland is an Associate Professor of Biology at James Madison University. He has hiked with his 12-year-old daughter to 500 miles from the North Pole (Svalbard).