I usually teach courses in Learning and Behavior Analysis, Research Methods, and Behavioral Pharmacology.  I particularly enjoy teaching students by providing opportunities to gain research experience in our Behavioral Pharmacology laboratory.

My research interests fall in the general categories of Behavioral Pharmacology and Behavior Analysis.  Behavioral Pharmacology is the experimental study of the effects of drugs on behavior.  I use the methods and theories of Behavior Analysis to characterize and understand the behavioral effects of drugs.  In particular, I study effects of drugs on laboratory animal models of choice and decision making.  In our lab, we study effects of drugs such as methylphenidate (Ritalin®) and amphetamine (Adderall®) on “impulsive” and “risky” behavior.  We also study effects of a variety of drugs on basic learning and memory processes.  Recently, we have undertaken several collaborative projects with researchers at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand examining effects of stimulant drugs on choice and time perception.

Select Publications

(Printable Pdf files)

Pitts, R. C., & McKinney, A. P. (2005).  Effects of methylphenidate and morphine on delay-discount functions obtained within sessions. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 83, 297-314.

Hughes, C. E., Sigmon, S. C., Pitts, R. C., & Dykstra. L. A. (2005). Morphine tolerance as a function of ratio schedule: Response rate or unit price. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 83, 281-296.

Pitts, R. C., & Febbo, S. M. (2004). Quantitative analyses of methamphetamine’s effects on self-control choices: Implications for elucidating behavioral mechanisms of drug action.  Behavioural Processes, 66, 213-233.

Galizio, M., Keith, J., Mansfield, W., & Pitts, R. C. (2003).  Repeated spatial acquisition: Effects of NMDA antagonists and morphine.  Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 11, 79-90.