Kim Cronise
Associate Professor of Psychology
- Office
- McCardell Bicen Hall 278
- Tel
- (802) 443-5252
- kcronise@middlebury.edu
- Office Hours
- Spring 2024: Tuesdays 3:00pm - 4:30pm; Thursdays 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Kim joined the Middlebury faculty in 2004. She received her BS, MA and PhD in psychology and behavioral neuroscience from University of South Carolina and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Portland Alcohol Research Center at Oregon Health and Sciences University.
Kim is trained as a behavioral neuroscientist and psychopharmacologist. Her expertise draws from several domains of neuroscience including developmental neuroscience, learning and memory, social neuroscience, and addiction. She spent most of her career investigating the neural mechanisms of fetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol addiction in a rodent model, but has changed direction. While her previous research focused on how neuroplasticity could lead to adverse outcomes, her current research explores the opposite: Kim investigates how contemplative practices and neuroplasticity promote well-being. Practicing mindfulness positively affects clinical outcomes for addiction, depression, and anxiety disorders (among others) by shifting brain function in ways that enhance attention, emotion & stress regulation, executive functioning, and bodily awareness. Kim’s research program specifically focuses on how mindfulness practices impact emotion regulation & addiction as well as emotional intelligence & interpersonal dynamics (emphasis on on aggression and compassionate behaviors). Her studies enlist both behavioral measures and neurophysiological measures including electrodermal response (EDR), heart rate variability (HRV), neuroendocrine assays, and electroencephalograph (EEG) brain wave activity.
Kim currently teaches the following courses: Emotions, Social Emotional Brain, Social Neuroscience, Mindfulness and Psychology, Brain and Behavior, Condition and Learning, and Introductory Psychology.
Kim also serves as a Faculty Advisor for the undergraduate neuroscience journal: Impulse (http://impulse.appstate.edu/). This journal is run by undergraduate students at institutions throughout the U.S. and internationally. A goal of Impulse is to provide students a venue to write-up and publish their independent research projects for dissemination to the scientific community. All articles are evaluated by student reviewers for scientific integrity and then recommended for publication or revision. Middlebury has a very accomplished team of student reviewers led by a student Associate Editor and the team works hard to ensure that Impulse articles meet the highest scientific standards. Impulse’s scientific review process mirrors that of professional journals and provides students first-hand training in the peer-review process. Student Associate Editors also have the privilege of attending and advocating for Impulse at national neuroscience conferences such as the Society for Neuroscience and the Federation for European Neuroscience Societies. Participation is a great way to make an impact! Please feel free to inquire about getting involved!
Courses Taught
NSCI 0500
Current
Upcoming
Independent Research
Course Description
Independent Research
Students enrolled in NSCI 0500 complete individual research projects involving laboratory or extensive library study on a topic chosen by the student and approved in advance by a NSCI faculty advisor. This course is not open to seniors; seniors should enroll in NSCI 0700. (Approval required)
Terms Taught
NSCI 0700
Current
Upcoming
Senior Research
Course Description
Senior Research
This course is for senior NSCI majors who plan to conduct one or more semesters of independent research, or who plan to complete preparatory work toward a senior thesis, such as researching and writing a thesis proposal as well as, if appropriate, collecting data that will form the basis for a senior thesis. Senior NSCI majors who plan to complete a senior thesis should register initially for NSCI 0700. Additional requirements may include participation in weekly meetings with advisors and/or lab groups and attending neuroscience seminars. (Approval required, open to seniors only)
Terms Taught
NSCI 0701
Current
Upcoming
Senior Thesis
Course Description
Senior Thesis
Senior NSCI majors who have completed one or more terms of NSCI 0700, who have a GPA of 3.3 in their major courses, and who plan to complete a senior thesis should register for NSCI 0701 for the final semester of the senior thesis process. Students enrolled in NSCI 0701 write a thesis, give a public presentation of their research, and present an oral defense of the thesis before a committee of at least two Neuroscience faculty members. Faculty may recommend High honors in Neuroscience after considering the quality of these components of a student’s thesis and the student’s GPA in major courses. Additional requirements may include participation in weekly meetings with advisors and/or lab groups and attending neuroscience seminars. (NSCI 0700, Approval required)
Terms Taught
PSYC 0105
Introduction To Psychology
Course Description
Introduction to Psychology
This course will provide a general introduction to the field of psychology. The most central and important theories, concepts, findings, controversies, and applications in the following areas will be considered: biological bases of behavior, learning, perception, thinking, development, personality, psychological disorders, and social behavior. (Open to Juniors and Seniors by waiver only) 3 hrs lect./1 hr. disc.
Terms Taught
Requirements
PSYC 0205
Current
Emotions
Course Description
Emotions
Emotions inform thoughtful decisions, but also prompt knee-jerk reactions that make us appear irrational at times. They inspire and dissuade us at both conscious and unconscious levels. They evolved to trigger self-protective responses, but their dark side fuels self-destructive behaviors as well. In this course we will discuss what emotions are, where they come from, how individual emotions differ, and whether or not everyone experiences emotions the same way. We will also explore how appreciating the complexities of emotions might improve emotion regulation and interpersonal dynamics. Topics to be considered will include biological, socio-cultural, clinical, and cognitive theories of emotion. (PSYC 105, open to PSYC, ESCP and NSCI majors only, other by waiver) 3 hrs. lect.
Terms Taught
Requirements
PSYC 0226
Current
Brain and Behavior
Course Description
Brain and Behavior
Activity within our brains provides the basis for our thoughts and behavior. Brain activity and behavior are dynamic processes subject to temporary changes (e.g. emotional states, attention, sleep/wake cycles, and sensations) and lasting modifications (e.g. development, language, personality, memory, and therapeutic treatments). In this course, we will explore brain mechanisms that produce complex behaviors and examine the contributions of brain activity to psychological and neurodegenerative disorders. During the lab, we will develop our understanding of brain structure, probe our own brain activity, and/or investigate how chemical changes alter animal behavior in predictable ways. (PSYC 0105; open to psychology majors; others by waiver. Not open to students required to take NSCI 0252) 3 hrs. lect./3 hrs. lab.
Terms Taught
Requirements
PSYC 0350
Current
Upcoming
Directed Research
Course Description
Directed Research in Psychology
Directed research provides opportunities for advanced students to become familiar with and participate in ongoing research projects under the direction of a faculty member. The student will first read background literature on the content area to be investigated and experimental methodologies to be used. Procedures involved in conducting psychological research will then be learned through firsthand experience. Potential activities include the design of research and the defining of conceptual variables and the gathering, analyzing, and interpretation of data. Finally, students will learn how to write technical articles in psychology by preparing a paper describing the project, using APA style. (Approval required; not open to first-year students) 3 hrs. lect.
Terms Taught
PSYC 0353
Social Neuroscience
Course Description
Social Neuroscience
Social neuroscience integrates neuroscientific and psychological approaches to enrich our understanding of human social behavior. The field is concerned with how we recognize, understand, and interact with each other in social settings. We will explore how the brain processes (and is shaped by) social/emotional information and how it gives rise to our physiological, cognitive, and behavioral repertoires of social responses. Topics include: theories and methods of social neuroscience research, the brain bases of social processes such as the self, person perception, social affiliation, rejection and conflict, social cognition, group dynamics, emotions, and cultural neuroscience. (not open to students who have taken PSYC/NSCI 0437) (PSYC 0226 or PSYC 228 or NSCI 0252; Open to psychology or neuroscience majors only, others by approval) 3 hrs lect.
Terms Taught
Requirements
PSYC 0500
Current
Upcoming
Advanced Research
Course Description
Advanced Research
A program of research arranged to meet the needs of advanced students majoring in psychology. (Approval required)
Terms Taught
PSYC 0700
Current
Upcoming
Senior Research
Course Description
Senior Research
A program of research arranged to meet the needs of advanced senior majors in psychology. (PSYC 0201 and PSYC 0202; Approval required)
Terms Taught
PSYC 0701
Current
Upcoming
Senior Thesis Proposal
Course Description
Senior Thesis Proposal
Students hoping to be considered as candidates for departmental honors must enroll in PSYC 0701 under the sponsorship of a department faculty member. Their semester’s work will culminate in the submission of a formal, written research proposal by the due date as specified by the department. If the proposal is approved, the student will enroll in PSYC 0702 during the winter term and PSYC 0703 during the spring term of their senior year. (Feb graduates should consult with their advisors about the appropriate semester in which to begin a thesis.) (PSYC 0201 and PSYC 0202; Approval required)
Terms Taught
PSYC 0702
Current
Upcoming
Senior Thesis Second Semester
Course Description
Senior Thesis Second Semester
Students whose honors thesis proposal (PSYC 0701) has been approved will collect, analyze, and interpret their data. This is the second semester of the 3-semester senior thesis. (PSYC 0201, PSYC 0202, and PSYC 0701; Approval required)
Terms Taught
PSYC 0703
Current
Upcoming
Senior Thesis
Course Description
Senior Thesis*
This is the third and final semester of the senior thesis. Students will finish analyzing and interpreting their data. This process culminates in a written thesis to be submitted by the due date as specified by the department, a presentation, and an oral defense. The decision about awarding departmental honors will be made after the student submits the thesis. (PSYC 0201, PSYC 0202, and PSYC 0702; Approval required)
Terms Taught
RELI 0209
Mindfulness and Psychology
Course Description
Religion and Science: Mindfulness and Modern Psychology
Mindfulness meditation is now widely embraced as a way to enhance personal wellbeing. To better understand this ancient practice, we will explore its traditional Buddhist background alongside its application and study in modern psychology and neuroscience. We will first study mindfulness in its historical context and examine how a traditionally religious practice was adapted for modern individualistic and therapeutic purposes. We will learn basic neural and psychological foundations of emotion, cognition, social behavior, and psychological disorders and raise theoretical and methodological issues in the scientific study of mindfulness. As an experiential component, students will also receive meditation training throughout the semester. (Open to psychology, religion, and neuroscience majors) 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc.
Terms Taught
Publications
*Cullen, B., *Bruns, M., *Paritsky, A., *McGuirk, E., *Ogle, T., Kimble, M., & Cronise, K. (October, 2015). Neurophysiological correlates of self-referential activity in meditators and non-meditators. Poster presentation at Advances in Meditation Research, New York Academy of Sciences, New York City, NY. September 2015.
*Cullen, B., *Bruns, M., *McGuirk, E., *Paritsky, A., *Ogle, T., Kimble, M. and Cronise, K. (June, 2015). Neurophysiological correlates of self-referential activity in meditators and non-meditators. Poster session at the Mind and Life Summer Research Symposium, Garrison, NY.
*Cullen, B.; *Stallworthy, I., *Lesenskyj, A., *Boles, L., *Weinert-Stein, M., *Percelay, R., *McGuirk, E., Sellers, J. and Cronise, K. (Jan, 2015). Do experienced meditators differ from non-meditators in emotion recognition, competitive reactions or compassionate responses? Poster session at University of Vermont Chapter for the Society for Neuroscience; Neuroscience, Behavior and Health Research Forum; Burlington, VT.
*Cullen, B.; *Stallworthy, I., *Lesenskyj, A., *Boles, L., *Weinert-Stein, M., *Percelay, R., *McGuirk, E., Sellers, J. and Cronise, K. (Nov, 2014). Do experienced meditators differ from non-meditators in emotion recognition, competitive reactions or compassionate responses? Poster session at Stanford CCARE, Science of Compassion Conference, San Francisco, CA.
*Kahn, H., *Raghunath, R., *Calhoun, C., *Lesenskyj, A., *Weinert-Stein, M., Cronise, K., & Sellers, J. (January, 2014). Can establishing a regular meditation practice reduce college students’ physiological responses to stressful testing situations and impact their social cognition? Poster session at University of Vermont Chapter for the Society for Neuroscience; Neuroscience, Behavior and Health Research Forum; Burlington, VT.
*Aye, M.F., *McNally, A., *Brown, K., *DuPre, N.,A., *Henschen, C., *Hudziak, V., *Lee, K., *Morrison, A., *Saeed, F., *Sullivan, A.K., *Williams, K., & Cronise, K. (2010). Sex differences in alcohol tolerance and consumption in C57BL/6J mice. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, online.
*Maletsky, K., *Rose-Baker, M., *Aye, M., *Morrison, A. & Cronise, K. (2010). An assessment of the effects of pregnenolone sulfate and intoxicated practice on alcohol tolerance and consumption in swiss webster mice. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, online.
Kelly, S. J., Leggett, D., and Cronise, K. (2009) Sexually dimorphic effects of alcohol exposure during development on processing of social cues. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 44(6):555-560.
Cronise, K., *Stefanik, M., *Sethi, L., & *Bowen, T. (2009). Blocking or facilitating ethanol tolerance with neurosteroids: A means to assess the impact of tolerance on ethanol consumption in mice. Research Society on Alcoholism, 33(1):p323.
*Lee, K., *Sethi, L., *Bowen, T., *Maletsky, K., *Brown, K., *Saeed, F., & Cronise, K. (2009). The impact of ethanol tolerance on consumption: does tolerance provide a preference or an ability to consume ethanol? Society for NeuroscienceAbstracts, online.
Cronise, K. & *Gandhi, M. (2008). Co-administration of ketamine with ethanol does not alter the development of tolerance to ethanol or ethanol consumption C57BL/6J mice. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, online.
Cronise, K., *Guarnier, M., *Blackman, L., & *Cook, A. (2007). Ethanol tolerance may enhance ethanol consumption in a modified drinking in the dark paradigm. Research Society on Alcoholism Abstracts, Supp. 31(6):24A.
*Sindel, C., *Blackman, L. & Cronise, K. (2006) Expression of sensitization to the locomotor stimulating effect of ethanol is dependent on contextually conditioned cues in DBA/2J mice. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, online.
Cronise, K. & Crabbe, J.C. (2005). Murine models of substance and alcohol dependence: unraveling genetic complexities. Computational genetics and genomics: tools for understanding complex disease. Peltz (Ed.), Humana Press, Inc., Totowa, NJ.
Cronise, K., Finn, D.A., Metten, P. & Crabbe, J.C. (2005). Scheduled access to ethanol results in motor impairment and tolerance in female C57BL/6J mice. Psychopharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 81:943-953.
Finn, D.A., Belknap, J.K., Cronise, K., Yoneyama, N., Murillo, A., & Crabbe, J.C. (2005). A procedure to produce high alcohol intake in mice. Psychopharmacology, 178:471-480.
Kleithermes, C.L., Cronise, K. & Crabbe, J.C. (2005). Home cage activity and ingestive behaviors in mice following chronic ethanol vapor inhalation. Physiology and Behavior, 85:479-488.
Kleithermes, C.L., Cronise, K. & Crabbe, J.C. (2004). Anxiety-like behavior in mice in two apparatus during withdrawal from chronic ethanol vapor inhalation. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 28(7):1012-1019.
Marino M.D., Cronise K., Lugo Jr. J.N., and Kelly, S.J. (2002) Ultrasonic vocalizations and maternal-infant interactions in a rat model of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Developmental Psychobiology, 41(4):241-351.
Lugo, Jr,. J.N., Marino, M., Cronise, K., and Kelly, S.J. (2002) Effects of alcohol exposure during development on social behavior in rats. Physiology & Behavior, 78(2):185-194.
Cronise, K., Marino, M.D., Tran, T.D. & Kelly, S.J. (2000). Critical periods for the effects of alcohol on learning in rats. Behavioral Neuroscience, 115(1):138-45.
Cronise, K. & Kelly, S.J. (2000). Maternal urinary tract infection alters water maze performance in the offspring. Neurotoxicology & Teratology, 23(4):373-9.