Prof. (Dr.) Derick Lindquist earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Weber State University in 1995. In 1998, he began graduate studies at Yale University. His research focused on the neurobiology of learning and memory—specifically, a form of associative (or Pavlovian) learning known as fear conditioning. Dependent on a brain region called the amygdala, Derick described the amygdala pathways that underlie specific forms of fear conditioning. This work culminated in a doctoral dissertation entitled ‘Cortical-subcortical innervation of the amygdala: Dual input synaptic plasticity and auditory fear conditioning’. Dr. Lindquist received his Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience in 2004.

Following graduation, Dr. Lindquist served as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate at Indiana University and the University of Kansas, respectively. He studied the cellular and molecular bases of another form of associative learning called eyeblink conditioning. His research investigated the cerebellar pathways and forms of synaptic plasticity that underlie the acquisition and storage of simple sensorimotor memories.