Eelke Snoeren
Professor / Nestleder forskning / Gruppeleder
Stillingsbeskrivelse
Professor i Biologisk psykologi
Nestleder forskning Institutt for Psykologi
Gruppeleder "Translasjonell nevrovitenskap og atferd".
My research:
The ultimate goal of my research is to understand the neurobiological basis of behavior, both in physiological and pathological circumstances. My main interest lies in the behaviors that activate the brain reward system and respond to it. The reward system is a collection of brain structures and neural pathways that are highly involved in feelings of pleasure, reward and motivation. Different types of stimuli have attractive and motivational values (reward) that induce appetitive (approach) and consummatory behavior. Food and sexual partners are examples of ‘natural rewards’ or ‘primary rewards’, because they induce behaviors that are necessary to facilitate the survival of one’s self and offspring. At the same time, they are examples of ‘intrinsic rewards’, rewards that have an unconditioned, inherently pleasurable value.
In my research, I am interested in discovering how the reward system is regulated and how this is reflected in behavior. The overall goal of my research is to understand how external stimuli can trigger behavioral responses and alter the brain natural reward system for future actions. I am intrigued by the question of how the brain regulates the switch from motivation - to approach - to consummatory behavior. In my research, I study sexual behavior, because this is one of the most natural incentive-driven behaviors that does not occur without an intrinsic state of motivation. Sexual behavior is therefore an ideal behavioral model to study the mechanisms behind natural reward.
Using a combination of traditional behavioral testing, modern manipulation methods, and advanced imaging, my research group is currently working on three different projects.
The first research project (funded by the Norwegian Research Council) investigates the neural mechanisms behind normal and aberrant motivated behaviors. Many brain areas in the so-called reward system are involved in the regulation of these behaviors. In response to sensory input such as smelling attractive food or mate partner, certain brain mechanisms may trigger behaviors to approach the food or sexual partner and start consuming or copulating. Disturbances in the reward system are related to many disorders like addiction, obesity, and obsessive compulsive behavior, in which the reward system is too active, or anhedonia and sexual dysfunctions in which motivation is lacking. Our research uses sexual behavior as a natural incentive-driven behavior to study the motivational system in rats. Because sexual behavior requires an intrinsic state of motivation and a natural extrinsic incentive, the motivational/reward system can be studied in a more ecological way than with other rewards like excess sugar or drugs. This allows us to study both motivation and the transition to actual consummatory behavior in this model for natural reward. The main aim of this project is to study the natural reward system in a health condition, by focusing on the neural regulation of sexual behavior in rats.
The second research line, consisting of two different projects (funded by Helse Nord and MSCA-IF), studies the natural reward system in a pathological condition. The prevalence of obesity worldwide continues to increase dramatically: 39% of adults are now overweight or obese. Excessive consumption of highly palatable sugar and fat laden foods, often referred to as “junk foods”, plays a central role in the development of obesity, possibly by dysregulating the brain reward system. In these projects, we aim to investigate the neurological mechanisms by which excessive junk food consumption adversely affects the reward system. We hypothesize that desensitization of the total reward system will cause overconsumption of all sorts of rewards. The novelty of these projects is that they address this question by not only investigating the effects of junk food consumption on the alterations in sensitivity to conditioned food rewards, but by also studying the neural circuitry regulating responses beyond food rewards, e.g. secondary intrinsic (sexual) or extrinsic (monetary) rewards. This will be achieved with the unique approach of combining human and animal translational research.
The third project (funded by Helse Nord) researches the neurodevelopmental effects of antenatal antidepressant exposure. Several studies in humans describe that antidepressant use during pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on neurobehavioral outcomes in offspring, such as affected social-emotional development, and increased internalizing and externalizing behaviors. In our rat model we can study the behavioral alterations in social-, anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors and molecular changes in the brain in offspring due to antenatal depression, antidepressant treatment, or the combination thereof. In order to investigate the behavioral alterations, we use a seminatural environmental set-up in which rats live in groups for several days and can express all aspects of behavior. Our seminatural environmental approach allows us to study their neurodevelopmental behavioral changes in a social context which is translational to the real life of children.
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Publikasjoner utenom Cristin
- Sylte OC, Johansen JS, Heinla I, Houwing DJ, Olivier JDA, Heijkoop R, Snoeren EMS. Effects of Perinatal Fluoxetine Exposure on Novelty-induced Social and Non-Social Investigation Behaviors in a Seminatural Environment. Psychopharmacology. 2021. Dec;238(12):3653-3667.
- Huijgens PT, Guarraci FA, Olivier JDA, Snoeren EMS. Male rat sexual behavior: insights from inter-copulatory intervals. Behav Processes. 2021 Sep;190:104458
- Chiacchierini G, Naneix F, Peters KZ, Apergis-Schoute J, Snoeren EMS, McCutcheon J. Protein appetite drives macronutrient-related differences in ventral tegmental area neural activity. Journal of Neuroscience. 2021. Jun 9;41(23):5080-5092.
- Heinla I, Chu X, Ågmo A, Snoeren EMS. Rat ultrasonic vocalizations and novelty-induced social and non-social investigation behavior in a seminatural environment. Physiology & Behavior. 2021. Aug 1;237:113450.
- Chu X, Snoeren EMS, Södersten P, Ågmo A. Sexual incentive motivation and male and female copulatory behavior in female rats given androgen from postnatal day 20. Physiology & behavior. 2021, Aug 1;237:113460.
- Huijgens PT, Heijkoop R, Snoeren EMS. Silencing and stimulating the medial amygdala impairs ejaculation but not sexual incentive motivation in male rats. Behavioural Brain Research. 2021, 405, 113206
- Huijgens PT, Snoeren EMS, Meisel RL, Mermelstein PG. Effects of gonadectomy and dihydrotestosterone on neuronal plasticity in motivation and reward related brain regions in the male rat. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 2021, 33(1), e12918
- Lalanza JF, Snoeren EMS.The cafeteria diet: A standardized protocol and its effects on behavior. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 2021, 122, pp. 92–119
- Hegstad J, Huijgens PT, Houwing DJ, Olivier JDA, Heijkoop R, Snoeren EMS. Female rat sexual behavior is unaffected by perinatal fluoxetine exposure. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2020. 120: 104796.
- Heinla I, Heijkoop R, Houwing DJ, Olivier JDA, Snoeren EMS. Third-party prosocial behavior in adult female rats is impaired after perinatal fluoxetine exposure. Physiology & Behavior. 2020 Aug,222
- Snoeren EMS. Female reproductive behavior. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2019;43:1-44. doi: 10.1007/7854_2018_68.
- Houwing DJ, Heijkoop R, Olivier JDA, Snoeren EMS. Perinatal fluoxetine exposure changes social and stress-coping behavior in adult rats housed in a seminatural environment. Neuropharmacology. 2019 Jun, 151:84:97
- Le Moëne O, Snoeren EMS. Mate Choice could be Random in Female Rats (Rattus norvegicus). Physiol Behav. 2018 Feb 1;184:1-5
- Heijkoop R, Huijgens PT, Snoeren EMS. Assessment of sexual behavior in rats: The potentials and pitfalls. Behav Brain Res. 2018 Oct 15;352:70-80.
- Chu X, Snoeren E, Ågmo A. Functions of Vocalization in Sociosexual Behaviors in Rats (Rattus norvegicus) in a Seminatural Environment. Journal of Comparative Psychology. 2017;131(1):10-8.
- Ågmo A, Snoeren EM. A cooperative function for multisensory stimuli in the induction of approach behavior of a potential mate. PLoS One. 2017;12(3):e0174339.
- Snoeren EM, Antonio-Cabrera E, Spiteri T, Musatov S, Ogawa S, Pfaff DW, et al. Role of Oestrogen alpha Receptors in Sociosexual Behaviour in Female Rats Housed in a Seminatural Environment. J Neuroendocrinol. 2015;27(11):803-18.
- Snoeren EM. The role of adrenoceptors in the central nervous system in male and female rat sexual behavior. Eur J Pharmacol. 2015;753:229-45.
- Ågmo A, Snoeren EM. Silent or Vocalizing Rats Copulate in a Similar Manner. PLoS One. 2015;10(12):e0144164.
- Snoeren EM, Veening JG, Olivier B, Oosting RS. Serotonin 1A receptors and sexual behavior in male rats: a review. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2014;121:102-14.
- Snoeren EM, Veening JG, Olivier B, Oosting RS. Serotonin 1A receptors and sexual behavior in female rats: a review. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2014;121:43-52.
- Snoeren EM, Helander LR, Iversen EE, Ågmo A. On the role of individual differences in female odor and ultrasonic vocalizations for male's choice of partner. Physiol Behav. 2014;132:17-23.
- Snoeren EM, Ågmo A. The incentive value of males' 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations for female rats (Rattus norvegicus). J Comp Psychol. 2014;128(1):40-55.
- Snoeren EM, Agmo A. The role of odors and ultrasonic vocalizations in female rat (Rattus norvegicus) partner choice. J Comp Psychol. 2014;128(4):367-77.
- Snoeren EM, Ågmo A. Female ultrasonic vocalizations have no incentive value for male rats. Behav Neurosci. 2013;127(3):439-50.
- Snoeren EM, Lehtimaki J, Ågmo A. Effect of dexmedetomidine on ejaculatory behavior and sexual motivation in intact male rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2012;103(2):345-52.
- Snoeren EMS, Chu X, Ågmo A. La interacciόn sexual en un ambiente seminatural: un acercamiento al diseño representativo. In Gozález, M.H., Pérez, M.Á.G., Gutiérrez, C.d.C.A., Martin, A.S. (eds) Aproximaciones al estudio del procesamiento sensorial, emocional y cognoscitivo. Universidad Veracruzana, (2012) pp. 25-64.
- Veeneman MM, Boleij H, Broekhoven MH, Snoeren EM, Guitart Masip M, Cousijn J, et al. Dissociable roles of mGlu5 and dopamine receptors in the rewarding and sensitizing properties of morphine and cocaine. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2011;214(4):863-76.
- Snoeren EM, Refsgaard LK, Waldinger MD, Olivier B, Oosting RS. Chronic paroxetine treatment does not affect sexual behavior in hormonally sub-primed female rats despite 5-HT(A) receptor desensitization. J Sex Med. 2011;8(4):976-88.
- Snoeren EM, Chan JS, de Jong TR, Waldinger MD, Olivier B, Oosting RS. A new female rat animal model for hypoactive sexual desire disorder; behavioral and pharmacological evidence. J Sex Med. 2011;8(1):44-56.
- Snoeren EM, Bovens A, Refsgaard LK, Westphal KG, Waldinger MD, Olivier B, et al. Combination of testosterone and vardenafil increases female sexual functioning in sub-primed rats. J Sex Med. 2011;8(4):989-1001.
- Olivier B, Chan JS, Snoeren EM, Olivier JD, Veening JG, Vinkers CH, et al. Differences in sexual behaviour in male and female rodents: role of serotonin. Curr Top Behav Neurosci. 2011;8:15-36.
- Chan JS, Snoeren EM, Cuppen E, Waldinger MD, Olivier B, Oosting RS. The serotonin transporter plays an important role in male sexual behavior: a study in serotonin transporter knockout rats. J Sex Med. 2011;8(1):97-108.
- Snoeren E, Chan J, Bovens A, Cuppen E, Waldinger M, Olivier B, et al. Serotonin transporter null mutation and sexual behavior in female rats: 5-HT1A receptor desensitization. J Sex Med. 2010;7(7):2424-34.
- Chan JS, Olivier B, de Jong TR, Snoeren EM, Kooijman E, van Hasselt FN, et al. Translational research into sexual disorders: pharmacology and genomics. Eur J Pharmacol. 2008;585(2-3):426-35.
- Breuer ME, Chan JSW, Oosting RS, Groenink L, Korte SM, Campbell U, Schreiber R, Hanania T, Snoeren EM, Waldinger MD and Olivier B. The triple monoaminergic reuptake inhibitor DOV 216,303 has antidepressant effects in the rat olfactory bulbectomy model and lacks sexual side effects. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2008;18(12):908-16.
Forskningsinteresser
The ultimate goal of my research is to understand the neurobiological basis of behavior, both in physiological and pathological circumstances. My main interest lies in the behaviors that activate the brain reward system and respond to it. The reward system is a collection of brain structures and neural pathways that are highly involved in feelings of pleasure, reward and motivation. Different types of stimuli have attractive and motivational values (reward) that induce appetitive (approach) and consummatory behavior. Food and sexual partners are examples of ‘natural rewards’ or ‘primary rewards’, because they induce behaviors that are necessary to facilitate the survival of one’s self and offspring. At the same time, they are examples of ‘intrinsic rewards’, rewards that have an unconditioned, inherently pleasurable value.
In my research, I am interested in discovering how the reward system is regulated and how this is reflected in behavior. The overall goal of my research is to understand how external stimuli can trigger behavioral responses and alter the brain natural reward system for future actions. I am intrigued by the question of how the brain regulates the switch from motivation - to approach - to consummatory behavior. In my research, I study sexual behavior, because this is one of the most natural incentive-driven behaviors that does not occur without an intrinsic state of motivation. Sexual behavior is therefore an ideal behavioral model to study the mechanisms behind natural reward.
Using a combination of traditional behavioral testing, modern manipulation methods, and advanced imaging, my research group is currently working on three different projects.
The first research project (funded by the Norwegian Research Council) investigates the neural mechanisms behind normal and aberrant motivated behaviors. Many brain areas in the so-called reward system are involved in the regulation of these behaviors. In response to sensory input such as smelling attractive food or mate partner, certain brain mechanisms may trigger behaviors to approach the food or sexual partner and start consuming or copulating. Disturbances in the reward system are related to many disorders like addiction, obesity, and obsessive compulsive behavior, in which the reward system is too active, or anhedonia and sexual dysfunctions in which motivation is lacking. Our research uses sexual behavior as a natural incentive-driven behavior to study the motivational system in rats. Because sexual behavior requires an intrinsic state of motivation and a natural extrinsic incentive, the motivational/reward system can be studied in a more ecological way than with other rewards like excess sugar or drugs. This allows us to study both motivation and the transition to actual consummatory behavior in this model for natural reward. The main aim of this project is to study the natural reward system in a health condition, by focusing on the neural regulation of sexual behavior in rats.
The second research line, consisting of two different projects (funded by Helse Nord and MSCA-IF), studies the natural reward system in a pathological condition. The prevalence of obesity worldwide continues to increase dramatically: 39% of adults are now overweight or obese. Excessive consumption of highly palatable sugar and fat laden foods, often referred to as “junk foods”, plays a central role in the development of obesity, possibly by dysregulating the brain reward system. In these projects, we aim to investigate the neurological mechanisms by which excessive junk food consumption adversely affects the reward system. We hypothesize that desensitization of the total reward system will cause overconsumption of all sorts of rewards. The novelty of these projects is that they address this question by not only investigating the effects of junk food consumption on the alterations in sensitivity to conditioned food rewards, but by also studying the neural circuitry regulating responses beyond food rewards, e.g. secondary intrinsic (sexual) or extrinsic (monetary) rewards. This will be achieved with the unique approach of combining human and animal translational research.
The third project (funded by Helse Nord) researches the neurodevelopmental effects of antenatal antidepressant exposure. Several studies in humans describe that antidepressant use during pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on neurobehavioral outcomes in offspring, such as affected social-emotional development, and increased internalizing and externalizing behaviors. In our rat model we can study the behavioral alterations in social-, anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors and molecular changes in the brain in offspring due to antenatal depression, antidepressant treatment, or the combination thereof. In order to investigate the behavioral alterations, we use a seminatural environmental set-up in which rats live in groups for several days and can express all aspects of behavior. Our seminatural environmental approach allows us to study their neurodevelopmental behavioral changes in a social context which is translational to the real life of children.
Undervisning
My research group is always available for graduation projects!
Bachelor Psychology
Coordinator and teacher:
PSY-1004: Biological psychology
Teacher:
PSY-2032: Critical reading and presenting in psychology
PSY-1001: Introduction in psychology
PSY-2011: Health psychology
Professional track Psychology
Teacher:
PSY-2552: Cognitive neuroscience
Master Psychology
Teacher:
PSY-3032: Critical reading, writing and presenting in psychology
Medlem i forskningsgruppe
Medlem i prosjekt
CV
Current position(s)
- 2021-present: Full Professor in Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT Arctic University of Norway, Norway
- 2024-present Deputy Head of Department (for research), Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT
- 2023-present: Group Leader “Behavioral and Translational neuroscience”, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT
Previous positions
- 2022-2023: Visiting Professor, Department of Basic Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Genève, Switzerland (5 months)
- 2018-2022: Group Leader “Behavioral and Translational neuroscience”, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT
- 2013-2021: Associate Professor in Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Norway
- 2018-2019: Honorary visiting Fellow at Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behavior, University of Leicester, United Kingdom (6 months)
- 2017-2018: Honorary visiting Fellow at Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behavior, University of Leicester, United Kingdom (5 months)
- 2011-2013: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT
Education
- 2010: PhD [Psychopharmacology]: “In search for animal models of female sexual dysfunction” - Date of approved disputation: 01.12.2010 (w/ Prof. Berend Olivier), Utrecht University, Faculty of Science, The Netherlands
- 2006: MSc Neuroscience and Cognition, Utrecht University, Faculty of Science, The Netherlands
- 2004: BSc Biomedical Sciences, Utrecht University, Faculty of Science, The Netherlands
Awards
- 2023: Researcher award of the Faculty of Health Sciences of UiT, Norway
- 2016: Young researcher award of the Faculty of Health Sciences of UiT, Norway
- 2015 & 2019: Prize for contribution to work environment, Department of Psychology, UiT, Norway