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Cynthia J. Pietras

Assistant Professor 3762 Wood Hall (269) 387-4464

Dr. Cynthia J. Pietras is an assistant professor of psychology and a member of the behavior analysis faculty. She received a B.A. in anthropology and a B.S. in psychology from University of Florida in 1993 and subsequently completed her Ph.D. (Experimental Analysis of Behavior) at University of Florida in 2000. She is currently completing her third year of postdoctoral training in human behavioral pharmacology at University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston.

Dr. Pietras' research interests include the experimental analysis of human and nonhuman behavior, behavioral pharmacology, pro-social behavior (e.g., cooperation, altruism) and aggressive behavior, risky choice and self-control, and behavioral ecology.

Educational Background

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER - HOUSTON

2000-2003 Postdoctoral training in human behavioral pharmacology
Advisor: Don R. Cherek, Ph.D.

THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

2000 Ph.D. in Psychology (Experimental Analysis of Behavior)
  Advisor: Timothy D. Hackenberg, Ph.D.
1997 M.S. in Psychology (Experimental Analysis of Behavior)
  Advisor: Timothy D. Hackenberg, Ph.D.
1993 B.S. in Psychology, B.A. in Anthropology

Professional Interests

• Experimental analysis of human and nonhuman behavior
• Behavioral pharmacology
• Prosocial behavior (e.g., cooperation, altruism) and aggressive behavior
• Risky choice and self control
• Behavioral Ecology

Courses Taught

• PSY 3300 Behavioral Research Methods
• PSY 3600 Concepts of Behavior Analysis with Lab
• PSY 6760 Skinner's Behaviorism
• PSY 6740 Verbal Behavior
• PSY 6110 Current Issues in the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
• PSY 6970 Behaviorism and the Philosophy of Science

Recent Publications

In Press

Locey, M., & Pietras, C.J, Hackenberg, T.D., (in press) Human risky choice: Delay sensitivity depends on reinforcer type. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes

2008

Brandt, A.E., Pietras, C.J. (2008) Gambling on a simulated slot machine under conditions of repeated play. The Psychological Record, 58, 405-426.

Pietras, C.J., Searcy, G.D., Huitema, B.E., & Brandt, A.E. (2008) Effects of monetary reserves and expected rate of gain on human risky choice. Behavioral Processes, 78(3), pp. 358-373

2006

Pietras, C.J., Cherek, D.R., Lane, S.D., & O. Tcheremissine (2006). Risk reduction and resource pooling on a cooperation task. Psychological Record, 56, 387-410.

2005

Pietras, C.J., & Hackenberg, T.D. (2005). Response-cost punishment via token loss with pigeons. Behavioral Processes, 69, 343-356.

Pietras, C.J., Cherek, D.R., Lane, S.D., & O.V. Tcheremissine, L.M. Lieveing & S. Nouvion. (2005). Acute effects of lorazepam on laboratory measures of aggressive and escape responses of adult male parolees. Behavioural Pharmacology, 16, 243-251.

Lane, S.D., Cherek, D.R., Tcheremissine, O.V., Lieving, L.M., Pietras, C.J. (2005). Acute marijuana effects on human risk taking. Neuropsychopharmacology, 30, 800-809.

Lane, S.D., Cherek, D.R., Pietras, C.J., Steinberg, J.L. (2005). Performance of heavy marijuana-smoking adolescents on a laboratory measure of motivation. Addictive Behaviors, 30, 815-828.

2004

Cherek, D. R., Tcheremissine, O. V., Lane, S. D., & Pietras, C. J. (2004). Acute effects of gabapentin on laboratory measures of aggressive and escape responses of adult parolees with and without a history of conduct disorder.  Psychopharmacology, 171, 405-412.

Lane, S. D., Cherek, D. R., Pietras, C. J., & Tcheremissine, O. V.  (2004). Acute marijuana effects on response-reinforer relations under multiple variable-interval schedules.  Behavioural Pharmacology, 15, 305-309.

Lane, S. D., Cherek, D. R., Pietras, C. J., & Tcheremissine, O. V.  (2004). Alcohol effects on human risk taking. Psychopharmacology, 172, 68-77.

2003

Cherek, D. R., & Pietras, C. J.  (2003).  Human aggression:  Biological correlates and environmental influences.  In M. A. Ron & T. Robbins (Eds.), Disorders of brain and mind II (pp. 372-399).  Cambridge:  Cambridge University Press.

Lane, S. D., Cherek, D. R., Pietras, C. J., & Tcheremissine, O. V.  (2003). Measurement of delay discounting using trial-by-trial consequences.  Behavioural Processes, 64, 287-303.

Lane, S. D., Cherek, D. R., Rhodes, H. M., Pietras, C. J., & Tcheremissine, O. V.  (2003).  Relationships among laboratory and psychometric measures of impulsivity:  Implications in substance abuse and dependence.  Addictive Disorders and their Treatment, 2, 33-40.

Pietras, C. J., Cherek, D. R., Lane, S. D., J. L. Steinberg, & Tcheremissine, O. V.  (2003). Effects of  methylphenidate on impulsive choice in adult humans.  Psychopharmacology, 170, 390-398.

Pietras, C. J., & Hackenberg, T. D.  (2003).  Human risky choice across four probability distributions. The Psychological Record, 53, 443-457.

Pietras, C. J., Locey, M., & Hackenberg, T. D.  (2003).  Human risky choice under temporal constraints: Tests of an energy-budget model. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 80, 59-75. 

Tcheremissine, O. V., Lane, S. D., Cherek, D. R., & Pietras, C. J.  (2003).  Impulsiveness and other personality dimensions in substance use disorders and conduct disorders.  Addictive Disorders and their Treatment, 2, 1-7.

2002

Cherek, D. R., Lane, S.D., Pietras, C.J., Sharon, J., & Steinberg, J.L. (2002).  Acute effects of baclofen, gamma-aminobutyric acid-B agonist, on laboratory measures of aggressive and escape responses of adult male parolees with and without a history of conduct disorder. Psychopharmacology, 164, 160-167.

Cherek, D. R., Lane, S. D., Pietras, C. J., & Steinberg, J. L.  (2002).  Effects of chronic paroxetine administration on measures of aggressive and impulsive responses of adult males with a history of conduct disorder.  Psychopharmacology, 159, 266-274.

2001

Pietras, C. J., & Hackenberg, T. D. (2001).  Risk-sensitive choice in humans as a function of an earnings budget.  Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 76, 1-19.

2000

Hackenberg, T. D., & Pietras, C. J.  (2000).  Video access as a reinforcer in a self-control paradigm:  A method and some data.  Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin, 18, 1-5.

Pietras, C. J., & Hackenberg, T. D.  (2000).  Timeout postponement without increased reinforcement frequency.  Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 74, 147-164.

Editorial

• Co-Editor, Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin, 2002-present
• Board of Editors, Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 2003-present
• Board of Editors, The Behavior Analyst, 2006-present
• Board of Editors, The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 2006-present
• Board of Editors, Analysis of Gambling Behavior, 2007-present
• Board of Editors, Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin, 2001-2002