Fear
is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of
cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.
-Bertrand Russel
The SIAN lab investigates the role of fear in a number of physiological & psychological processes.
Christopher M. Bloom, Ph.D.
Dr. Bloom received his Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Saint Louis University in 2001 following completion of his dissertation entitled, “Psychophysical Measurement of Sensory Deficits in an Autosomal Recessive Myelin Mutant Rat”.
Chris joined USI as an assistant professor of psychology in 2002. He is currently engaged in research investigating affective psychophysiology. Using the Biphasic approach to the scientific study of emotion, Chris and the SIAN lab are currently investigating the role of fear in the development of non-contingent reinforcement.
If you'd like to hear a recent lecture from dr. bloom given at the "day of the dead" colloquium-
click on the lecture title below!
"The Neuroscience of
Voodoo Death"
SIAN Lab in the news!
Voodoo Death & SIAN discussed in the Courier & Press
SIAN discussed in Evansville Living Magazine
St. Paul Pioneer Press talks to SIAN about superstition
Recent SIAN Publications
Bloom, C., Venard, J., Harden, M., Seetharaman, S. (2007). Non-contingent positive and negative reinforcement schedules of supersitious behaviors. Behavioural Processes, 75, 8-13.
Lamkin, D. M., Bloom, C. M., Michaels, Z., Barnett, J. K.
(2007). Performance predicts natural killer cell activity
after an acute time-limited stressor: support for the
toughness model of arousal & health. Stress & Health, 23
(3), 169-173.
Palladino, J.P., Bloom, C.M. (2007). Motivation &
Emotion. In W.F. Buskist & S.F. Davis (Eds.), 21st Century
Psychology. In Press.
Palladino, J.P, Bloom, C.M. (2007). Consciousness. In W.F. Buskist & S.F. Davis (Eds.), 21st Century Psychology. In Press.
Bloom, C., Venard, J., Harden, M., Seetharaman, S.
(2007). Affective modulation of non-contingent
reinforcement: Fear & superstition. Submitted for
Publication.
Bloom, C, &
Lamkin, D. (2006). The olympian struggle to remember the cranial
nerves-Mnemonics & student success. Teaching of
Psychology, 33(2), 123-124.
Bloom, C.,
Anch, A.M., Dyche, J.S. (2002). Behavioral effects of chronic
melatonin and pregneneolone injections in a myelin mutant rat (taiep). Journal of General
Psychology, 129 (3), 226-237.
Anch, A.M.,
Powell, E., Bloom, C.., Dyche, J.S. (2000). Locomotor analysis in
the taiep mutant. Journal of General
Psychology, 127 (4), 412-425.
Anch, A.M.,
Powell, E., Bloom, C., Dyche, J. (1999). Splay test: A new method
for determining locomotor dysfunction. Physiology &
Behavior, 67,
819-821.
Recent Presentations
Bloom,
C., Harden, M., Slevin, R., Fritz, C., Venard, J. (2007).
Obsessive-Compulsive symptoms and superstitious conditioning in a
non-clinical sample. Presentation, Association for Psychological Science,
Washington, D.C.
Bloom, C., Venard, J., Harden, M., Seetharaman, S. (2006). Fear modulates non-contingent reinforcement. Presentation, Association of Psychological Science, New York City, NY.
Bloom, C., Lamkin, D., Michaels, Z., & Barnett, J. (2005). Exercise, white coat effect & natural killer cell function. Presentation, Association of Psychological Science, Los Angeles, CA.
Bloom, C.M., Davenport, D.G., Morgan, S.D. (2000). Higher Order Conditioning in a Discriminated Conditioned Punishment Phobia Model. Presentation, Midwestern Psychological Assocation. Chicago, IL.
Morgan, S.D., Davenport, D.G., Bloom, C.M. (2000). Conditioned Punishment versus Signaled Avoidance as a Model for Phobia. Presentation, Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago, IL.
Davenport, D.G., Morgan, S., Bloom, C.M., Dyche, J.S. (1998). Discriminated Punishment Model of Phobia. Presentation, Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago, IL.
SIAN Lab Alumna
Jacob "Natural Killer" Venard
Jake has joined the fine neuroscientists at Baylor University to pursue his Ph.D.
Don "damn them" Lamkin
Don can now be found at the university of Iowa pursuing a Ph.D. in psychoneuroimmunology.
Shyam is giving rats PTSD while earning a ph.d. at the University of South Florida
Mitch "Homicidal" Harden
Mitch is doing his best to disgust those around him while working on his M.S. at the University of Missouri-St. Louis
