University of Pennsylvania: School of Veterinary Medicine

Adrian Morrison D.V.M., Ph.D.

Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Animal Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine
Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine
Senior Research Fellow, Center on Neuroscience, Medical Progress and Society, Department of Psychiatry, George Washington School of Medicine

Department of Animal Biology

Qualifications

1957 B.A. Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA

1960 D.V.M. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

1962 M.S. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

1964 Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Research Interests

We are trying to determine what structures prevent behavioral arousal from rapid eye movement sleep (REM), given that the brain in REM exhibits most of the features of the brain in alert wakefulness. We employ primarily behavioral and pharmacologic techniques. Our current focus is the role of the amygdala in the control of REM onset and its maintenance.

Selected Publications

Papers

Sanford, L.D., W.K. Hunt, R.J. Ross, A.I. Pack, and Morrison, A.R., 1998. Central administration of a 5-HT2 receptor agonist and antagonist: lack of effect on rapid eye movement sleep and PGO waves. Sleep Research Online, 1:80-86.

Sanford, L.D., W.K. Hunt, R.J. Ross, Morrison, A.R., and A.I. Pack, 1998. Microinjections into the pedunculopontine tegmentum: effects of the GABAA antagonist, bicuculline, on sleep, PGO waves and behavior. Arch. Ital. Biol., 136:205- 214.

Sanford, L.D., P. Nassar, R.J. Ross, J. Schulkin, and Morrison, A.R., 1998. Prolactin microinjections into the amygdalar central nucleus suppress NREM sleep. Sleep Research Online, 1:109-113.

Zagrodzka, J., C.E. Hedberg, G.L. Mann, and Morrison, A.R., 1998. Contrasting expressions of aggressive behavior released by lesions of the central nucleus of the amygdala during wakefulness and rapid eye movement sleep without atonia. Behav. Neurosci., 112:589-602.

DeBoer,T., L.D. Sanford, R.J. Ross, and Morrison, A.R., 1998. Effects of electrical stimulation in the amygdala on ponto- geniculo-occipital waves in rats. Brain Res., 793:305-310.

Hunt, W.K., Ross, R.J., L.D. Sanford, Morrison, A.R., and A.I. Pack, 1998. Elicited ponto-geniculo-occipital waves and phasic suppression of diaphragm activity in sleep and wakefulness. J. Appl. Physiol., 84:2106-2114.

Morrison, A.R., 1998. The pathophysiology of REM-sleep behavior disorder (Letters to the Editor). Sleep 21:446.

DeBoer, T., L.D. Sanford, R.J. Ross, and Morrison, A.R., 1999. Electrical stimulation in the amygdala increases the amplitude of elicited PGO waves. Physiol. Behav.,66:119-124.

Ross, R.J., W.A. Ball, Morrison, A.R., L.D. Sanford, D.F. Dinges, S.M. Silver, N.B. Kribbs, F.D. Mulvaney, P.R. Gehrman, and D.E. McGinnis, 1999. REM sleep changes during the adaptation night in combat veterans with PTSD. Biol. Psychiatry, 45:938-941.

Morrison, A.R., Sanford, L.D., and Ross, R.J., 1999. Initiation of REM sleep: Beyond the brainstem. In: B.N. Mallick and S. Inoué, (Eds.), Rapid Eye Movement Sleep. Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, pp. 51-68.

Morrison, A.R., Sanford, L.D., and Ross, R.J., 2000. The amygdala: A critical modulator of sensory influence on sleep. Biological Signals and Receptors, 9:283-296.

Morrison, A.R. and Sanford, L.D., 2000. Critical brain characteristics to consider in developing dream and memory theories. Behavioral and Brain Sciences 23:977-97.

Sanford, L.D., Cheng, C.S., Silvestri, A.J., Tang, X., Mann, G.L., Ross, R.J., and Morrison, A.R., 2001. Sleep behavior in rats with pontine lesions producing REM without atonia. Sleep Res. Online, 4(1):1-5.

Sanford, L.D., Silvestri, A.J., Ross, R.J., and Morrison, A.R., 2001. Influence of fear conditioning on elicited ponto-geniculo-occipital waves and rapid eye movement sleep. Arch. Ital. Biol.,139:169-183.

Silvestri, A.J., Sanford, L.D., Ross, R.J., and Morrison, A.R., 2001. The effects of carbachol microinjections into the central nucleus of the amygdala of rats. Neuropsychopharmacology, presently under revision.

Silvestri, A.J., Sanford, L.D., Pavlock, A., Ross, R.J. and Morrison, A.R., 2002. The central nucleus of the amygdala does not mediate the effects of modafinil. Brain Research, 941: 43-52.

Sanford, L.D., Tang, X., Ross, R.J., and Morrison, A.R. 2003. Influence of shock training and fear-conditioned cues on sleep architecture in mice: A strain comparison. Behavior Genetics, 33: 43-58.

Articles defending biomedical research

Botting, J. and Morrison, A.R., 1998. UnScientific American: animal rights or wrongs: An op-ed. HMS Beagle: TheBioMedNetMagazine,25(Feb.20)1-7 (http://biomednet.com/hmsbeagle/1998/25/people/op_ed.htm)

Morrison, A.R., 1998. A different view of animal liberation: Reflections on the fourth plenary SVME session. Soc. Vet. Med. Ethics Newsletter 4 (May) 17-19.

Morrison, A.R., 1998. Book Review: Animal Models of Human Psychology: Critique of Science, Ethics and Policy by Kenneth J. Shapiro (Hogrefe and Huber: Seattle, 1998). Soc. Vet. Med. Ethics Newsletter 4 (December) 9-10.

Morrison, A.R., 1998. Thoughts of a working scientist. Basic ethics of animal research clear within scientific mission. Working for Animals Used in Research, Drugs and Surgery (WARDS)Science and Animal Care Newsletter, 9:1-2, Fall 1998.

Morrison, A.R., 1999. Choosing to favor animals. Review of The Human Use of Animals, Case Studies in Ethical Choices, by F. Barbara Orlans, Tom L. Beauchamp, Rebecca Dresser, David B. Morton, John P. Gluck (Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford, 1998). Science, 283:181, 8 January 1999.

Morrison, A.R., 1999. A scientist at work. The Am. Biol.Teacher,61:496-502.

Morrison, A.R., 1999. Caring about animals and creativity: Pogo revisited. Lab Animal, 28 (10):34-37.

Goodwin, F.K. and Morrison, A.R., 1999. Scientists in bunkers: How appeasement of "animal rights" activism has failed. Cerebrum, The Dana Forum on Brain Science 1/2:50-62.

Goodwin, F.K. and Morrison, A.R., 2000. Science and Self-Doubt. Why animal researchers must remember that human beings are special. Reason 32:22-29.

Morrison, A.R., 2001. Making choices in the laboratory. In: E.F. Paul and J. Paul (Eds.) Why Animal Experimentation Matters: The Use of Animals in Medical Research, New Studies in Social Policy Series:Piscataway: Transaction Press, p. 49-70.

Morrison, A.R., 2001. Personal reflections on the animal-rights phenomenon. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 44(winter 2001): 62-75. Reprinted in The Physiologist 44 (winter 2001):1, 7-13.

Morrison, A.R., 2001. A scientist's perspective on the ethics of using animals in behavioral research. In: M.E. Carroll, and J. B. Overmier (Eds.) Animal Research and Human Health: Advancing Human Welfare Through Behavioral Science, American Psychological Association, pp. 341-356.

Morrison, A.R., 2001. When sleep is not good for you. In: M. E. Carroll, and J. B. Overmier (Eds.), Animal Research and Human Health: Advancing Human Welfare through Behavioral Science, American Psychological Association, pp. 181-194.

Morrison, A.R., 2002. Developing an ethical view on the use of animals in biomedical research. The Fourth Walter C. Randall Lecture on Biomedical Ethics. The Physiologist, 45 (3): 135, 139-144.

Morrison, A.R., 2002. Misrepresenting medical history in the service of animal rights. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 45(autumn): 606-619.

Morrison, A.R. Making choices in the laboratory. Society, September/October: 16-23.

Morrison, A.R., 2003. Guest editorial: Animal-based research: our human obligation. The American Biology Teacher, 65: 645-646.

Morrison, A.R., 2003. First, animals are not people. Long Beach Press-Telegram, Monday, August 6.

Morrison, A.R., 2003. Ethical principles guiding the use of animals in research. The American Biology Teacher, 65/2: 105-108.