Rosemary Strasser, PhD
- Associate Professor
- Director, Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program
Additional Information
Research
Social bonds are essential in regulating the physiological processes involved in stress coping. The pet-owner relationship is one type of social bond that exhibits many behavioral features of an attachment bond. By understanding social bond formation or the lack thereof, we can further learn more about the human-animal bond and its effect on mental health and well-being for both. My laboratory has focused on studying the human-animal bond in several different species and environments. Even in the best shelter environment, dogs and cats experience separation from familiar humans and environments that might be a source of stress. In our laboratory, we have examined the influence of stress on social cognition in shelter dogs, dogs' and their owners' synchronization of hormonal states, as well as the health and adoptability of shelter cats. We have recently begun examining the influence of early life stress and trauma on companion animals' physiology and psychological well-being. We are also interested in applied animal behavior questions that benefit the community partners, including local animal rescue groups and animals in zoological parks.
Areas of Expertise
- Animal behavior
- Behavioral Neuroendocrinology
- Human-Animal interaction
- Service-learning
- Community engagement
Recent Grants
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals grant (2021) "Precision Care of Canine Behavior Utilizing Non-Invasive Biological Markers of Psychological Trauma" (Strasser, Case)
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals grant (2022) "Salivary α-Amylase as a Biomarker of Stress and a Previous History of Trauma in Pet Dogs" (Duvall, Strasser)
Recent Publications
*Denotes UNO graduate student
**Denotes UNO undergraduate student
- Jiménez, A. G., & Strasser, R. (2024). Effects of Adverse Life History on Oxidative Stress and Cytokine Concentration in Domestic Dogs. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 1-13.
- Awalt, S. L.*, Boghean, L.*, Klinkebiel, D., & Strasser, R. (2024). A dog's life: Early life histories influence the methylation of glucocorticoid (NR3C1) and oxytocin (OXTR) receptor genes, cortisol levels, and attachment styles. Developmental Psychobiology, 66(3), e22482.
- Buttner, A. P.*, Awalt, S. L.*, & Strasser, R. (2023). Early life adversity in dogs produces altered physiological and behavioral responses during a social stress‐buffering paradigm. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 120(1), 6-20.
- Dare, P.*, & Strasser, R. (2023). Ruff Morning? The Use of Environmental Enrichment during an Acute Stressor in Kenneled Shelter Dogs. Animals, 13(9), 1506.
- Buttner, A. P. *, & Strasser, R. (2022). Extreme life histories are associated with altered social behavior and cortisol levels in shelter dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 256, 105693.
- Muller, S. L.**, Bissell, S. L. *, Cunningham, K. M. *, & Strasser, R. (2021). How do you behave at the zoo? A look at visitor perceptions of other visitors' behavior at the zoo. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 8(4), 619-631.
- Buttner, A. P *, Thompson, B.**, Strasser, R., & Santo, J. (2015) Evidence for a synchronization of hormonal states between humans and dogs during competition. Physiology & Behavior, 54-62.
- Dybdall, K.*, Strasser, R., (2014). Is there a Bias Against Stray Cats in Shelters? People's Perception of Shelter Cats and How It Influences Adoption Time. Anthrozoös, 4, 603-614.
- Buttner, A. P *, & Strasser, R., (2014). Understanding the Social-Cognitive and Physiological Processes that Underlie Contagious Yawning in Shelter Dogs. Animal Cognition, 1-10.
Recent Press Releases
-
Psychology Today
A recently published study on early life adversity was highlighted in Psychology Today. (2023)
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/202305/early-life-hardship-affects-a-dogs-later-response-to-stress -
Psychology Today
Interview regarding neurochemical parallels between humans and dogs. (2021). https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tender-paws/202107/curious-about-your-emotional-life-look-the-dog - NPR interview “You might be stressing out your dog”(2019)
Courses Taught
*denotes Services Learning Class
- Animal behavior
- Animal behavior laboratory*
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Evolutionary Psychology (Graduate)
- Hormones and Behavior (Graduate & Undergraduate)
- Human-Animal Interactions
- Introduction to Psychology Thompson learning community*
- Introduction to Neuroscience
- Learning
- Learning Laboratory*
- Neuroscience laboratory
- Research Methods
Recent Awards and Distinctions
- University of Nebraska Omaha Service Learning Award Outstanding faulty (2014)
- Excellence in Community-Based Teaching and Scholarship Nebraska Campus Compact (2013)
Additional Information
Research
Social bonds are essential in regulating the physiological processes involved in stress coping. The pet-owner relationship is one type of social bond that exhibits many behavioral features of an attachment bond. By understanding social bond formation or the lack thereof, we can further learn more about the human-animal bond and its effect on mental health and well-being for both. My laboratory has focused on studying the human-animal bond in several different species and environments. Even in the best shelter environment, dogs and cats experience separation from familiar humans and environments that might be a source of stress. In our laboratory, we have examined the influence of stress on social cognition in shelter dogs, dogs' and their owners' synchronization of hormonal states, as well as the health and adoptability of shelter cats. We have recently begun examining the influence of early life stress and trauma on companion animals' physiology and psychological well-being. We are also interested in applied animal behavior questions that benefit the community partners, including local animal rescue groups and animals in zoological parks.
Areas of Expertise
- Animal behavior
- Behavioral Neuroendocrinology
- Human-Animal interaction
- Service-learning
- Community engagement
Recent Grants
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals grant (2021) "Precision Care of Canine Behavior Utilizing Non-Invasive Biological Markers of Psychological Trauma" (Strasser, Case)
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals grant (2022) "Salivary α-Amylase as a Biomarker of Stress and a Previous History of Trauma in Pet Dogs" (Duvall, Strasser)
Recent Publications
*Denotes UNO graduate student
**Denotes UNO undergraduate student
- Jiménez, A. G., & Strasser, R. (2024). Effects of Adverse Life History on Oxidative Stress and Cytokine Concentration in Domestic Dogs. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 1-13.
- Awalt, S. L.*, Boghean, L.*, Klinkebiel, D., & Strasser, R. (2024). A dog's life: Early life histories influence the methylation of glucocorticoid (NR3C1) and oxytocin (OXTR) receptor genes, cortisol levels, and attachment styles. Developmental Psychobiology, 66(3), e22482.
- Buttner, A. P.*, Awalt, S. L.*, & Strasser, R. (2023). Early life adversity in dogs produces altered physiological and behavioral responses during a social stress‐buffering paradigm. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 120(1), 6-20.
- Dare, P.*, & Strasser, R. (2023). Ruff Morning? The Use of Environmental Enrichment during an Acute Stressor in Kenneled Shelter Dogs. Animals, 13(9), 1506.
- Buttner, A. P. *, & Strasser, R. (2022). Extreme life histories are associated with altered social behavior and cortisol levels in shelter dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 256, 105693.
- Muller, S. L.**, Bissell, S. L. *, Cunningham, K. M. *, & Strasser, R. (2021). How do you behave at the zoo? A look at visitor perceptions of other visitors' behavior at the zoo. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 8(4), 619-631.
- Buttner, A. P *, Thompson, B.**, Strasser, R., & Santo, J. (2015) Evidence for a synchronization of hormonal states between humans and dogs during competition. Physiology & Behavior, 54-62.
- Dybdall, K.*, Strasser, R., (2014). Is there a Bias Against Stray Cats in Shelters? People's Perception of Shelter Cats and How It Influences Adoption Time. Anthrozoös, 4, 603-614.
- Buttner, A. P *, & Strasser, R., (2014). Understanding the Social-Cognitive and Physiological Processes that Underlie Contagious Yawning in Shelter Dogs. Animal Cognition, 1-10.
Recent Press Releases
-
Psychology Today
A recently published study on early life adversity was highlighted in Psychology Today. (2023)
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/202305/early-life-hardship-affects-a-dogs-later-response-to-stress -
Psychology Today
Interview regarding neurochemical parallels between humans and dogs. (2021). https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tender-paws/202107/curious-about-your-emotional-life-look-the-dog - NPR interview “You might be stressing out your dog”(2019)
Courses Taught
*denotes Services Learning Class
- Animal behavior
- Animal behavior laboratory*
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Evolutionary Psychology (Graduate)
- Hormones and Behavior (Graduate & Undergraduate)
- Human-Animal Interactions
- Introduction to Psychology Thompson learning community*
- Introduction to Neuroscience
- Learning
- Learning Laboratory*
- Neuroscience laboratory
- Research Methods
Recent Awards and Distinctions
- University of Nebraska Omaha Service Learning Award Outstanding faulty (2014)
- Excellence in Community-Based Teaching and Scholarship Nebraska Campus Compact (2013)