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2026 Poster Session B

B35 - Influence of Developmental Lead Exposure on Impulsive Behaviors in Mice Using a Fixed-Ratio Waiting-For-Reward (FR wait) Paradigm

Lead has been found to be associated with impulsive behavior in children and adolescents (Reyes 2015).

2026 Poster Session B

B35 - Influence of Developmental Lead Exposure on Impulsive Behaviors in Mice Using a Fixed-Ratio Waiting-For-Reward (FR wait) Paradigm

Mentor: Anna Radke, Ph.D.

Lead has been found to be associated with impulsive behavior in children and adolescents (Reyes 2015).

The goal of this project was to investigate whether early-life lead exposure impacts decision-making and impulsivity in mice.

A fixed-ratio waiting-for-reward (FR wait) paradigm was used, modeled off of protocols used by Brockel & Cory-Slechta (1998) who experimented with rats.

We hypothesized that exposure during early life can impair thinking by increasing impulsivity. This would be shown by lead-exposed mice having an increase in earned rewards, with a decrease in free rewards.

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