Dr. J. Timothy Cannon

I am the director of the Neuroscience Program and a professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Scranton.  I received my baccalaureate from the University of Scranton in 1971 and my doctorate in experimental psychology, specializing in physiological, from the University of Maine in 1977. I have done post-doctoral work at UCLA in the fields of pain inhibition and opioids. I teach Behavioral Neuroscience, Psychopharmacology, Sensation & Perception, and Research Methods in the Behavioral Science Lab. 

My research interests include the neuroanatomical and neurochemical bases of endogenous pain-inhibitory mechanisms and addictive phenomena.  I’ve also been examining finger ratios (index to ring) and their relationship to adult personality and perceptual differences.  Finger ratios are related to prenatal exposure to androgens, which can affect the developing brain.  My students and I have collaborated in producing a web-based Sheep Brain Dissection Guide that is widely used at the college level. 

I organize the Annual Psychology Conference (22 years), Kids Judge! Neuroscience (6 years) and the NEPA Brain Bee (8 years).  I also collaborate in running our monthly brown bag seminar What’s News in Science, Medicine, and Technology.  In 1995, I was named the Pennsylvania CASE Professor of the Year. 

Representative research/presentations:

Cannon, J.T., Lewis, J.W., Weinburg, V.E., & Liebeskind, J.C. (1983). Evidence for the independence of brain stem mechanisms mediating analgesia induced by morphine and two forms of stress. Brain Research, 269, 231-236.

Terman, G.W., Shavit, Y., Lewis, J.W., Cannon, J.T., & Liebeskind, J.C. (1984). Intrinsic mechanisms of pain inhibition and their activation by stress. Science, 226, 1270-1277.

Levine, R., Morgan, M.M., Cannon, J.T., and Liebeskind, J.C. (1991). Stimulation of the periaqueductal gray matter of the rat produces a preferential ipsilateral antinociception. Brain Research, 567: 140-144.

Baldwin, A.E., and Cannon, J.T. (1996). Sensitization of the tail-flick reflex following exposure to either a single prolonged test trial or behavioral testing under the analgesic influence of morphine. Pain, 67:163-172,.

Pohlig, R.T. & Cannon, J. Examination of the Relationship Between 2D:4D Finger Length Ratio and Ball-Toss Accuracy. Soc. For Neuroscience Abst. (2004).

Schneider, L.M., Shirer, S.M., & Cannon, J.T. Two Tests of Thermal Nociception and Morphine Sensitivity in Helix Aspersa.  Soc. For Neuroscience Abst. (2004).

Yoder K.M. & Cannon J.T. 2D:4D finger ration and adult behavioral measures related to autism.  Soc. for Neuroscience Abst.  (2005)

Orr P.T., Tropiano H, & Cannon J.T..Mental rotation and perspective taking: Sex differences and relationships with 2D-4D ratio. Soc. for Neuroscienc Abst. (2006).

Brightbill A.M., Karpiak C, & Cannon J.T. Does environmental enrichment affect occurence of same-sex mounting behaviors in BALB/c mice? Soc. for Neuroscienc Abst. (2006). 

Patel N., Orr P.T., Krupka A.J., & Cannon J.T. Effect of environmental enrichment in standard cages on Barnes Maze performance of BALB/c mice. Soc. for Neuroscienc Abst. (2006).