Running Basic MED-PC Programs: An Introduction to MEDLAB™ 8
Course Date – July 30, 2008
Cost - FREE!

This course is a free workshop geared to introduce the novice MED PC® user, or potential user, to running basic behavioral test protocols using our powerful and flexible MED PC® Research Control and Data Acquisition software. Software and equipment installation will be covered.  This course will be taught by staff from Med Associates, as well as Dr. Steve Dworkin from Jacksonville State University.  Course enrollment is limited, so sign up early to ensure your spot.

An Introduction to Behavioral Research Protocol Programming:
Getting Started with MED PC®
Course Date - July 31, 2008
Cost - $250

Learn the basics of writing MED State Notation programs to control your behavioral experiments. Instruction will be provided by following the exercises in the MED PC Programmer’s Guide.  If you already have worked on your own MED State Notation programs, be prepared to bring examples of them, or bring the details of your behavioral experiments.  This will allow you to practice using your own protocols and procedures.  This course will be taught by staff from Med Associates, as well as Dr. Steve Dworkin from Jacksonville State University.  Course enrollment is limited, so sign up early to ensure your spot.  Scholarships are available for researchers from academic institutions.

An Introduction to Self-Administration
Course Date – August 1, 2008
Cost - $250

Gain a basic understanding of the field of drug self-administration as a research tool to study drugs of abuse and mechanisms of learning. This course will present theoretical concepts and will also provide a technical overview of the laboratory equipment necessary to perform self-administration studies.  The course will be taught by Dr. Steve Dworkin from Jacksonville State University, an expert in rodent self-administration.  Scholarships are available for researchers from academic institutions.

Learning and Memory and
Classical Fear Conditioning
Course Dates: August 20-22, 2008
Cost - $500

This three-day intensive workshop will cover theoretical and technical aspects related to the study of conditioned fear using the freeze response as a dependent measure.  In addition, spatial learning and memory will be covered using the Water Maze.  Other modules will focus on place conditioning, and assays for locomotor activity.  Laboratory exercises will be performed using an automated video motion analysis system, and this type of system will be compared/contrasted to freeze scores obtained by human observation.  Special attention will be paid to activity and shock reactivity, training, testing, extinction, and context discrimination.  Water Maze studies will be conducted using automated video tracking systems.  Laboratory exercises for locomotor assays and place conditioning will be conducted using standard systems offered by Med Associates, Inc.  The course will be taught by Dr. Stephan Anagnostaras from UCSD, a recognized authority in murine fear conditioning.  Register early, as class size is limited.  Scholarships are available for researchers from academic institutions.