• Steven Neese

    Steven Neese

    Associate Professor of Psychology


Biographical Sketch

Steven Neese is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Cornell College where he teaches courses in Neuroscience, Research Methods, Memory and Cognition, among others. His research interests include hormonal influences on learning and memory in rodent models, influence of early life diet on long-term cognition in young rats, and concussion/subconcussive head impacts on tasks of executive function in college aged students.

He takes an interactive approach to his teaching, often incorporating problem-solving stories to engage students in topics including spatial cognition, cognitive control, intelligence, and observational research methods. Class periods are generally spent tackling questions as groups and utilizing this shared experience as a basis for learning. Steven also has an extended interest in the influence of endogenous, dietary and environmental estrogens on behavioral outcomes in rodent models and has presented and published numerous studies investigating these interactions. His current work is expanding these interests by modeling childhood obesity in rats and determining sex differences across a variety of behavioral paradigms in early adulthood.

Academic History

  • Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. 2007.
  • M.S. in General Psychology, New Mexico Highlands University, 2003                                                                           
  • B.A. in Psychology. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2000.
  • A.D. in General Studies, University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan, 1999.                                                       

Courses Taught

  • PSY 100: 17 Days Later: Zombies, Brains, and Basic Neuroscience.
  • PSY 161: Fundamentals of Psychology.
  • PSY 292: Research Methods I.
  • PSY 261: Cognitive Neuroscience.
  • PSY 362: Learning.
  • PSY 363: Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience.
  • PSY 370: Memory and Cognition.
  • PSY 483: Senior Seminar.

Faculty-Student Research

Impact of Dietary Fats on Behaviors in a Rodent Model of Development.

 

 

 

Publications

Abstracts/Posters:  

Tomas K, Kelleher M, Linfield H, Lutz K, Brown A, Jewell A, Miller Z Neese SL, November 2022. High fat diet exposure to female rats impacts memory and burying behaviors. Poster presented at the 31st annual Tri-State Undergraduate Psychology Conference. Dubuque, IA.

Ginsberg M, Carvo S, McEndaffer A, Neese SL, November 2021. Alterations in the performance of behavioral tasks following a high sucrose diet in young adult male and female Long Evans rats. Poster presented at the 30th annual Tri-State Undergraduate Psychology Conference. Cedar Rapids, IA.

Ebert, K, Neese SL, November 2021. Obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety sensitivity; Relationships, outcomes, and treatments. Poster presented at the 30th annual Tri-State Undergraduate Psychology Conference. Cedar Rapids, IA.

Neese SL, Sukolowsky V, Ort P, Rhoades J. October 2019. Differential Effects of Energy Dense Diets on object recognition memory in young adult male and female long Evans rats. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Chicago, IL.

Berger D, Casten L, Patino J, Neese SL, November 2018. Evidence of Cognitive Dysfunction Following Two Weeks of Soccer Heading. Poster presented at the 28th annual Tri-State Undergraduate Psychology Conference. Dubuque, IA.

Rhoades J, Casten L, Patino J, Berger D, Neese SL, November 2018. Evidence of Working Memory Errors in College Students Reporting Undiagnosed Concussions. Poster presented at the 28th annual Tri-State Undergraduate Psychology Conference. Dubuque, IA.

Anloague A, Stotesbery A, Plahuta M, Fisher H, Johnston K, Lowry M, Neese SL, October 2015.  Exposure to a High Fat Diet During Adolescence Alters Memory and Sensorimotor Gating in Adulthood. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest/Great Lakes Undergraduate Research Symposium. Crawfordsville, IN.  

Kundu P, Neese SL, Bandara SB, Monaikul S, Helferich WG, Schantz SL, November 2014. The effects of the botanical estrogen isoliquiritigenin (ISL) on cognition. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Washington DC.  

Johnston KA, Neese SL, September 2014.  Navigating the adolescent maze: The impact of a high fat diet on brain chemistry in rats, a pilot study. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest/Great Lakes Undergraduate Research Symposium. Crawfordsville, IN.  

Neese SL, Schantz SL, October 2012. Testosterone impairs response inhibition in gonadectomized adult male rats. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. New Orleans, LA.  

Sadowski RN, Park PY, Neese SL, Schantz SL, Juraska JL, October 2012. Effects of exposure to Bisphenol A during gestation and early postnatal development on adult behavior on the radial arm maze. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. New Orleans, LA.  

Sadowski RN, Wise LM, Park PY, Neese SL, Schantz SL, Juraska JL, October 2012. Effects of perinatal exposure to Bisphenol A on the number of neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex and behavior on the radial arm maze in adult rats. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology. New Orleans, LA.  

Sadowski RN, Wise LM, Park PY, Neese SL, Schantz SL, Juraska JL, June 2012. Effects of exposure to Bisphenol A during early development or adolescence on the radial arm maze in adulthood. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. Madison, WI.  

Neese SL, Schantz SL, November 2011. Testosterone impairs the acquisition of an operant delayed alternation task in male rats. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Washington DC.  

Pisani SL, Huffman, JC, Katzenellenbogen JA, Neese SL, Schantz SL, Korol DL, November 2011. Acute administration of ERα- and ERβ-selective agonists impair response learning in ovariectomized young adult rats. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Washington DC.  

Sadowski RN, Lowry NC, Park PY, Neese SL, Schantz SL, Juraska JM, November 2011. Low doses of Bisphenol A during gestation and early development alters maternal behavior in Long Evans hooded rats. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Washington DC.  

Chisholm NC, Sadowski RN, Park PY, Neese SL, Schantz SL, Juraska JM, October 2011. Effects of low dose bisphenol A during gestation and early development on maternal behavior in Long Evans hooded rats. Poster presented at the 27th International Neurotoxicology Conference. Research Triangle Park, NC.  

Sadowski RN, Park PY, Neese SL, Schantz SL, Juraska JM, October 2011. Effects of low dose bisphenol A administered to males and females during gestation and early postnatal development on adult behavior in the radial arm maze. Poster presented at the 27th International Neurotoxicology Conference. Research Triangle Park, NC.  

Neese SL, Korol DL, Schantz SL, October 2011. Voluntary exercise does not prevent an estradiol induced working memory deficit in middle-aged rats. Poster presented at the 3rd annual Illinois Symposium on Reproductive Sciences. Urbana, IL.  

Pisani SL, Huffman JC, Katzenellenbogen JA, Neese SL, Schantz SL, Korol DL, October 2011. Activation of ERα, ERβ, and GPR30 impairs response learning in ovariectomized rats. Poster presented at the 3rd annual Illinois Symposium on Reproductive Sciences. Urbana, IL.  

Peretz JA, Neese SL, Flaws JA, October 2011. Mouse strain does not affect the ability of BPA to inhibit ovarian antral follicle growth or steroidogenesis. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Midwest Regional Society for Toxicology. Champaign, IL.  

Pisani SL, Ginsberg AD, Zhang JW, Doerge DR, Helferich WG, Neese SL, Schantz SL, Korol SL, November 2010. Acute treatment with the phytoestrogen genistein enhances place and impairs response learning in female rats. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. San Diego, CA.  

Neese SL, Bandara SB, Helferich WG, Doerge DR, Korol DL, Schantz SL, October 2009. Cognitive effects of multiple daily genistein exposure in rodents using an operant battery. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Chicago, IL.  

Pisani S, Ginsberg AD, Helferich WG, Neese SL, Schantz SL, Korol SL, October 2009. Low doses of estradiol enhance place learning and impair response learning in Long-Evan rats in the absence of dietary phytoestrogens. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Chicago, IL.  

Sarkar J, Shaw JL, Neese SL, Cimifranca MA, Helferich WG, Doerge DR, Cooke PS, Schantz SL, October 2009. Effects of early postnatal genistein exposure on sexually dimorphic behavior and reproductive cyclicity. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Chicago, IL.  

Neese SL, Wang VC, Katzenellenbogen JA, Korol DL, Schantz SL, November 2008. Specific estrogen receptor a and β agonists impair delayed spatial alternation in long evans rats. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Washington DC.  

Wang VC, Neese SL, Helferich WG, Doerge D, Korol DL, Schantz SL, November 2008. Cognitive effects of dietary phytoestrogen genistein in rodents using an operant battery. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Washington, DC.  

Smith DC, Tan AA, Kendis D, Neese SL, Ribak CE, Shapiro LA, October, 2006.Vagus nerve stimulation reduces neurogenesis following pilocarpine-induced seizures. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. San Diego, CA.  

Clough RW, Neese SL, Sherrill LK, Tan AA, Duke A, Browning RA, Smith DC, July, 2006. GABA neuron loss in fluid percussion Injury (FPI) may be spared in rats receiving vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). Poster presented at the annual meeting of the National Neurotrauma Society. St. Louis, MO.  

Tan AA, Smith DC, Duke A, Neese SL, Roosevelt RW, Browning RA, Clough RW,  Jensen RA, July, 2006. Vagus nerve stimulation: A possible breakthrough in the non-pharmacological treatment of traumatic brain injury. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the National Neurotrauma Society. St. Louis, MO.  

Yan XX, Neese SL, Smith DC, Xiong K, Clough RW, April, 2006. Traumatic brain injury and hippocampal plasticity: Region related changes in neurogenesis, neuronal lamination and formation of ectopic granule cells. Poster presented at the annual meeting of Experimental Biology. San Francisco, CA.  

Clough RW, Neese SL, Yan XX, Xiong K, Banz WJ, Modglin AA, et al, April, 2006. Traumatic brain injury and hippocampal plasticity: Enhanced recovery of function with Z-Bisdehydrodoisynolic Acid (±-Z-BDDA) parallels increased neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. Poster presented at the annual meeting of Experimental Biology. San Francisco, CA.  

Neese SL, Sherrill LK, Banz WJ, Modglin AA, Meyers CY, Hou Y, Smith DC, Clough RW, November, 2005. Z-Bisdehydrodoisynolic Acid (±-Z-BDDA) enhances motor recovery following moderate fluid percussion injury. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the National Neurotrauma Society. Washington, DC.  

Neese SL, Sherrill LK, Clough RW, Modglin AA, Roosevelt RW, Browning RA, Jensen RA, Smith DC, November, 2005. Progressive Brain Edema following Cortical Contusion Injury is Reduced by Vagus Nerve Stimulation. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the National Neurotrauma Society. Washington, DC.  

Smith DC, Neese SL, Modglin AA, Sherrill LK, Duke A, Roosevelt RW, Jensen RA, Browning RA, Clough RW, November, 2005. Continuous, intermittent electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve enhances cognitive and motor recovery following fluid percussion injury in the rat when initiated both 2 and 24 hrs postinjury. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the National Neurotrauma Society. Washington, DC.  

Clough RW, Neese SL, Banz WJ, Modglin AA, Hou Y, Meyers CY, Smith DC, April, 2005. Neurological recovery from traumatic brain injury is facilitated by (±)-Z-bisdehydrodoisynolic acid, a non-steroidal carboxylic acid with estrogenic activity. Poster presented at the annual meeting of Experimental Biology. San Diego, CA.                                  

Modglin AA Neese SL, VonLanken AC, Smith DC, October, 2004. Comparison of the effects of lidocaine vs. muscimol reversible inactivation of the hippocampus and caudate nucleus on place learning and motor behavior in the rat. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. San Diego, CA.  

Neese S, Harney B, Horne A, Rodriguez W, April, 2003. Cerebrolysin treatment on age-related memory deficits. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association. Denver, CO.  

Racicot A, Moreland N, Horne CA, Neese S, Rodriguez WA, November 2002. Age-dependent effects of cerebrolysin and glucose on memory. Poster presented at the annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minorities. New Orleans, LA.    

Student Symposium Presentations:  

Linfield H, Ciesla M, Leemhuis K, Kerner C, Neese SL, April 2023. High Fat Diet Exposure to Developing Rats Impacts Marble-Burying Behaviors. Poster presented at the annual Student Symposium at Cornell College. Mount Vernon, IA.

Kelleher M, McEndaffer A, Ginsberg M, Carvo S, Lutz K, Tomas K, Neese SL, April 2022. High fat diet exposure to Long Evans rats impacts memory, locomotion and marble-burying behaviors. Poster presented at the annual Student Symposium at Cornell College. Mount Vernon, IA.

Kerner K, Neese SL. April 2021. Transgender community and the field of social work: Reviewing and discussing current social work approaches. Oral presentation at the annual Student Symposium at Cornell College. Mount Vernon, IA.

Ebert K, McGrew, SJ, Franklin L, Raines AM, Neese SL. April 2021. Examining the associations between rumination subscales and OCD dimensions among veterans with military sexual trauma. Poster presented at the annual Student Symposium at Cornell College. Mount Vernon, IA.

Ort P, Sukolowsky V, Rhoads J, Berger D, Neese SL, April 2019.The effects of a high sucrose diet on adolescent rats’ cognitive functions between sexes: a pilot study. Poster presented at the annual Student Symposium at Cornell College. Mount Vernon, IA.

Berger D, Casten, L, Patino J, Neese SL, April 2018. Evidence of cognitive dysfunction following two weeks of soccer heading. Poster presented at the annual Student Symposium at Cornell College. Mount Vernon, IA.

Stotesbery A, Plahuta M, Lowry M, Fisher H, Anloague A, Neese SL, April 2015. The effects of a High Fat Diet During Adolescence in Memory Performance in Rats. Poster presented at the annual Ovation Festival at Baldwin Wallace University. Berea, OH.

Publications:  

Kundu P, Neese SL, Bandara S, Monaikul S, Helferich WG, Doerge DR, Khan IA, Schantz SL (2018). The effects of the botanical estrogen, isoliquiritigenin on delayed spatial alternation. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 66, 55-62.  

Pisani SL, Neese SL, Katzenellenbogen JA, Schantz SL, Korol DL (2016). Estrogen receptor agonists modulate learning in female rats in a dose- and task-specific manner. Endocrinology, 157, 292-303.  

Sadowski RN, Park P, Neese SL, Ferguson DC, Schantz SL, Juraska JM (2014). Effects of perinatal bisphenol A exposure during early development on radial arm maze behavior in adult male and female rats. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 42, 17-24.  

Neese SL, Pisani SL, Doerge DR, Helferich WG, Sepehr E, Chittiboyina AG, Rotte SC, Smillie TJ, Khan IA, Korol DL, Schantz SL (2014). The effects of dietary treatment with S-equol on learning and memory processes in middle-aged ovariectomized rats. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 41, 80-8.  

Peretz J, Neese SL, Flaws JA (2013). Mouse strain does not influence the overall effects of bisphenol a-induced toxicity in adult antral follicles. Biology of Reproduction, 89, 108.  

Neese SL, Korol DL, Schantz SL (2013). Voluntary exercise impairs initial delayed spatial alternation performance in estradiol treated ovariectomized middle-aged rats. Hormones and Behavior, 64, 579-88.  

Neese SL, Bandara SB, Schantz SL (2013). Working Memory in Bisphenol-A Treated Middle-Aged Ovariectomized Rats. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 35, 46-53. 

Turner RT, Iwaniec UT, Andrade JE, Branscum AJ, Neese SL, Olson DA, Wagner L, Wang VC, Schantz SL, Helferich WG (2013). Genistein administered as a once-daily oral supplement had no beneficial effect on the tibia in rat models for postmenopausal bone loss. Menopause, 20, 677-86.  

Pisani SL, Neese SL, Doerge DR, Helferich WG, Schantz SL, Korol DL, 2012. Acute genistein treatment enhances place learning and impairs response learning in young adult female rats. Hormones and Behavior, 62, 491-499.  

Neese SL, Schantz SL, 2012. Testosterone impairs the acquisition of an operant delayed alternation task in male rats. Hormones and Behavior, 61, 57-66.  

Neese SL, Bandara SB, Doerge DR, Woodling KA, Andrade JE, Helferich WG, Korol DL, Schantz SL, 2012. Effects of multiple daily genistein doses on executive function in middle-aged rats. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 34, 187-95.  

*Wang VC, *Neese SL, Korol DL, Schantz SL, 2011. Estradiol impairs response inhibition in young and middle-aged, but not old rats. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 33, 405-414. *Both authors contributed equally to this research.  

Neese SL, Clough RW, Banz WJ, Smith DC, 2010. Z-Bisdehydrodoisynolic Acid (Z-BDDA): An estrogenic seco-steroid that enhances behavioral recovery following moderate fluid percussion brain injury in male rats. Brain Research, 1362, 93-101.  

Neese SL, Korol DL, Katzenellenbogen JA, Schantz SL, 2010. Impact of estrogen receptor alpha and beta agonists on delayed alternation in middle-aged rats. Hormones and Behavior, 58(5), 878-890.  

Cimafranca MA, Davila J, Ekman GC, Andrews RN, Neese SL, Peretz J, Woodling KA, Helferich WG, Sarkar J, Flaws JA, Schantz SL, Doerge DR, Cooke PS, 2010. Acute and chronic effects of oral genistein administration in neonatal mice. Biology of Reproduction, 83(1), 114-121.  

*Neese SL, *Wang VC, Doerge DR, Woodling KA, Andrade JE, Helferich WG, Korol DL, Schantz SL, 2010. Impact of dietary genistein and aging on executive function in rats. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 32, 200-211. *Both authors contributed equally to this research.  

Wang VC, Neese SL, Korol DK, Schantz SL, 2009. Chronic estradiol replacement impairs performance on an operant delayed spatial alternation task in young, middle-aged, and old rats. Hormones and Behavior, 56, 382-390.  

Neese SL, Doran M, Clough RW, 2007. Evaluation of degenerating neurons after traumatic brain injury: Cryomicrotomy and staining procedures for frozen sections of rat brains. Journal of Histotechnology, 30(2), 109-114.  

Clough RW, Neese SL, Sherrill LK, Tan AA, Duke A, Roosevelt RA, Smith DC, 2007. Cortical edema in moderate fluid percussion brain injury is attenuated by vagus nerve stimulation. Neuroscience, 147(2), 286-293.  

Neese SL, Sherrill LK, Tan AA, Roosevelt RW, Browning RA, Smith DC, Clough RW, 2007. Vagus nerve stimulation may protect GABAergic neurons following traumatic brain injury in rats: an immunocytochemical study. Brain Research, 1128(1), 157-163.  

Smith DC, Modglin AA, Duke A, Neese SL, Jensen RA, Browning RA, Clough RW, 2006. Recovery of function following vagus nerve stimulation initiated 24 hours post-fluid percussion injury. Journal of Neurotrauma, 23, 1549-1560.  

Smith DC, Modglin AA, Roosevelt RW, Neese SL, Jensen RA, Browning RA, Clough RW, 2005. Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve enhances cognitive and motor recovery following moderate fluid percussion injury in the rat. Journal of Neurotrauma, 22, 1485-1502.  

Neese S, LaGrange L, Trujillo E, Romero D, 2004. The effects of ethanol and silymarin treatment during gestation on spatial working memory. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 4:4.