Neurobehavioral Core Facility | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Skip Navigation Neurobehavioral Core Facility Close the left navigation Add Mission The Neurobehavioral Core Facility allows intramural researchers to study rodent responses to internal and external stimuli, with the goal of gaining insight into nervous system function and dysfunction associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders. Our goal is to provide the latest cutting edge neurobehavioral techniques including in vivo electrophysiology, optical imaging and optogenetics. Services Mouse behavioral testing is used to evaluate the behavioral effects of both genetic and environmental perturbations. Environment interaction studies that assess susceptibility to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders Behavioral tests that reflect symptoms of psychiatric and neurological conditions Assays that track the development of abnormal phenotypes Advanced techniques that allow for direct perturbation and readout from genetically and anatomically defined neural circuitry during behavior such as in vivo electrophysiology, optical imaging and optogenetics Behavioral assays: Elevated Plus Maze Y-Maze T-Maze Open Field Light/Dark Box Object Location Memory Task Object Recognition Memory Task Barnes Maze Bussey-Saksida Touchscreen Marble Burying Assay Fear Conditioning NIEHS Shared and Core Facilities are available to NIH researchers. Information for staff on utilizing these services can be found on the NIEHS Junction or by contacting the staff below. Video Scientific Staff Jesse D. Cushman, Ph.D. Director, Neurobehavioral Core Laboratory Tel 984-287-3463 [email protected] Leslie R. Aksu, Ph.D. Biologist Tel 984-287-3415 [email protected] Korey D. Stevanovic, M.Sc. Biologist Tel 984-287-3456 [email protected] Neurobehavioral Core Fellows Margaret H. Copeland Fellow - Postbaccalaureate Tel 984-287-3463 [email protected] Dalisa R. Kendricks, Ph.D. Fellow Tel 984-287-4184 [email protected] Maya Yun Fellow - Postbaccalaureate Tel 984-287-3463 [email protected] Related Links Mood and gut disorders linked to impaired serotonin transport - Environmental Factor, February 2022 Back to Top Last Reviewed: March 18, 2026