I have taught gross anatomy and neuroscience for over 20 years. I love finding unique ways to help students remember and utilize their knowledge in their clinical careers. I have taught clinical (medical, veterinary, physical therapy), graduate, and undergraduate students over my career and have been privileged to mentor several in their research endeavors. My research students have been invited to give both national and international talks, have published in excellent peer-reviewed journals, and have received local and national grants. I have also enjoyed the role of mentor to both basic science and clinical faculty. I enjoy assisting others in their endeavors to advance both their research and career goals.
Peterson, D.C. Limbic Circuits and Gut-Brain Interactions. PCOM Research Grant, $8750, 7/1/2020-6/31/2021.
Peterson, D.C., Hamel R. Integration of Basic Science with Clinical Curriculums: Student Growth in Clinical Reasoning and Communication through Practice. HPU Growth Mindset Pedagogy Grant, $1,500, 7/01/18-6/31/19
Peterson, D.C. Examination of short-term learning outcome measures: cadaveric versus two-dimensional learning tools. ISU SoTL, $1,850, 07/01/15-06/31/16.
Peterson, D.C. “Amygdalar modulation of processing in auditory cortex.” National Institutes of Health, Small Grant Program (NIH R03: DC010245) $444,000. 03/01/2010-02/29/2015. (Primary Investigator).
Peterson, D.C. “Distinguished Traveling Scholar Award 2014”, Society for Neuroscience, $1,200. (PI, President, Ames, IA Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience).
Peterson, D.C. “Society for Neuroscience Chapter Grant 2014” Society for Neuroscience, $1,415, 01/15/14-01/14/15 (Principle Investigator).
Peterson, D.C. “GABAergic Neurons are Preferentially Damaged During Blast-Pressure Wave Induced Traumatic Brain Injury.” ISU CVM Seed Grant, $19,000. 07/01/13-06/30/14 (Principle Investigator).
Peterson, D.C. “Distinguished Traveling Scholar Award 2013”, Society for Neuroscience, $1,100. 6/28/13-6/27/14, (PI, President, Ames, IA Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience).
Peterson, D.C., Ellinwood, M., Sakaguchi, D., Trimarchi, J., West, R. “Neuroscience Day Application 2013”, ISU Biotechnology Symposium Grant, $4,000. 7/1/13-6/30/14. (Principle Investigator).
Peterson, D.C., Winer, E., Gilbert, S. “Virtual Surgery: New Frontiers in Medical Education” ISU Miller Fellowship, $15,000. 07/01/13-06/30/14. (Principle Investigator).
Peterson, D.C., Winer, E., Gilbert, S. “Interactive Virtual Surgery: New Ways to Learn Medicine” ISU CAC grant, $67,239. 06/01/13-05/31/14. (Principle Investigator).
Peterson, D.C.”Iowa State University: Peterson Foreign Travel Grant 2013” ISU, $750, 04/01/13-04/11/13 (Principle Investigator).
Peterson, D.C. “SFN Chapter Grant 2012” Society for Neuroscience. $800. 10/24/12-10/23/13.
(Primary Investigator).
Peterson, D.C. “3D Volume Rendering of Veterinary Anatomy” Iowa State University CLIM grant, $12,400. 05/01/12-04/30/13. (Primary Investigator).
Peterson, D.C. “Distinguished Traveling Scholar Award”, Society for Neuroscience, $1,200. 6/28/12-12/31/12, (PI, President, Ames, IA Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience).
Peterson, D.C. “Ames, IA Chapter Grant 2011”, Society for Neuroscience, $1,500. 2/28/2011-2/27/12. (PI, President, Ames, IA Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience).
Peterson, D.C. “Multidimensional (3/4D) software for visualization of complex anatomical structures.” Iowa State University CLIM grant, $13,242. 04/20/11-12/31/11. (Primary Investigator).
Peterson, D.C. “Ames, IA Chapter Grant 2010”, Society for Neuroscience, $500. 9/7/10-9/6/11. (President, Ames, IA Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience).
Peterson, D.C., Wenstrup, J.J. “Amygdalar influences on cells in the inferior colliculus”. National Institutes of Health, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (F32), DC007786, $143,200. 7/21/05-7/20/08. fellow. (Sponsor: J. J. Wenstrup).
Peterson, D.C., Schofield, B.R. “Cortical projections to the inferior colliculus: Neurochemical and connectional characterizations of targets”. National Institutes of Health, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Individual Predoctoral Fellows (F31), DC05277, $67,025. 9/1/01-8/31/04. fellow. (Sponsor: B. R. Schofield).
DO 130G Clinical and Basic Neuroscience
DONL 337 Elective Rotation Ultrasound Block 1
DONL 337 C02 Elective Rotation Ultrasound Block 2
BIOM 550G Research Survey Seminar
DO 111G Structural Principles of Osteopathic Medicine
I have two current research interests. I examine how higher-order functions such as attention, emotion, and learning are processed by the brain and how these processes are altered by disease or pathology. Progress in these experiments will help identify novel therapeutic approaches for a wide variety of diseases (e.g., tinnitus, psychiatric disorders).
My second set of experiments examines how the gut microbiota influences brain function. Prior experiments in this field have shown that the organisms in the gut can directly affect brain activity. They can have either positive or negative effects depending on which microorganisms are prominent. By altering diet, we can promote the growth of the "good" microorganisms, and thus directly influence specific circuits within the brain. Progress in this set of experiments may help us utilize food as a therapy for a variety of psychiatric and mood disorders.
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