This summer, I continued my work studying the nociceptive withdraw response in intact, unanesthetized rats.  Although there has been considerable research on the withdraw response in spinalized and anesthetized rats, there has been little research on the response of intact, unanesthetized rats. Previous results from the work of Melissa Seamon and Lindsey Wyatt in our lab revealed significant variability that may have masked relationships between stimulus location and response direction. The specific aim of my research is to identify variables, such as initial paw location, that may influence withdrawal response direction. This summer was spent developing a new experimental design to better control and measure relevant variables.  I hope to discover a better understanding of variables that influence the withdraw response which will allow me to develop a strategy underlying the nociceptive withdraw response in intact, unanesthetized rats.