Michael Ruscio

Associate Professor of Psychology and co-director of Interdisciplinary Minor in Neuroscience

Education

Ph.D., Cornell University

B.A., University of Richmond

Research Interests

I am a behavioral neuroendocrinologist interested in the neuroendocrine mechanisms associated with affiliative behaviors.  I am interested in the degree to which certain social circumstances (living in isolation, with related individuals or with strangers) can be stressful or beneficial relative to the social or mating systems (monogamy vs. polygyny) of different species.  I quantify a variety of different neuroendocrine mechanisms, including hormone receptors, neuropeptiderigic activity and neurogenesis. My research program regularly incorporates undergraduates through independent studies and bachelor's essays.

Courses Taught

• PSYC 103: Introduction to Psychological Science
• PSYC 214: Behavioral Neuroscience
• PSYC 353: Hormones and Behavior
• PSYC 359: Study Abroad in Neuroscience
• PSYC 446: Special Topics in Neuroscience
• PSYC 447: Seminar in Neuroscience
• PSYC 464: Advanced Behavioral Neuroscience with Lab

Selected Publications

Undergraduate student coauthors are marked with an asterisk.

Ruscio, M.G., *King, S.B., *Kinley-Cooper, S.K., & *McKendrick, G. (2018). Social environment affects central distribution of estrogen receptor alpha in Peromyscus californicus. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 269, 81-87. pdf

Ruscio, M.G., *King, S.B., & Haun, H.L. (2015). Social isolation increases cell proliferation in male and cell survival in female California mice (Peromyscus californicus).  Physiology and Behavior, 151. 570-576. pdf

Ruscio, M.G., Korey, C., & Birck, A. (2015). Neuroscience and global learning.  Journal of Undergraduate Neuroscience Education, 11(1), A106-A111. pdf