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Overview
Faculty Courses
Major
Student
Research
Opportunities
& Activities
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Professional and Personal Interests
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Dr.
Struthers' lab research interests are in the neural mechanisms
that underlie behavioral arousal and the processing of novel
environments. His research employs the use of stereotaxic surgery,
immunochemistry, and behavioral manipulations to investigate
gene expression in the cingulate cortex and basal ganglia.
 He
is actively involved in the campus Animal Care and Use Committee
and the Institutional Review Board which oversee the ethical
treatment of animals and human subjects respectively in research
conducted at Wheaton College.
Dr. Struthers married his wife in 1993 and they have been blessed
with three children. Dr. Struthers was born in Chicago but spent
his adolescent and teen years in the foothills of the Appalachian
Mountains in Northwestern Pennsylvania. He is an avid fan of
all Pittsburgh sports teams (Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates)
and is known in the department for his love of J.R.R. Tolkien's
writings. He also is rumored to have been in an '80s cover band
(complete with a mullet) during his college years. When he finds
time, he enjoys listening to Collective Soul, Sass Jordan, U2,
Phil Keaggy, and glam rock hair bands from the eighties.
| Courses
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Membership in Professional Societies
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Research
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Dr. Struthers is investigating the effects of hormones and
dopaminergic/adrenergic drugs on animal learning and cognition
and neuroanatomy. Using rodent models he is investigating
the neural systems underlying Parkinson's disease and is interested
in connections between the cingulate cortex and basal ganglia.
His current lab research is on the effects of environmental
enrichment on neural responses to novelty challenges. His
theoretical research is in the area of neuroethics, the biological
bases of spirtuality and personhood, and the nature of integration
in psychology. He is also interested in the Anglican tradition
and in science/faith dialogue issues.
| Papers
Published and/or Presented |
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- Struthers, W.M. (2007) Implications of Human Uniqueness: From Imago Dei to Neuroscience. Joint Meeting of the American Scientific Affiation and Christians in Science, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Struthers, W.M. (2007) The Neurological and Spiritual Aspects of Pornography Addiction in Men. Suter Science Seminar, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA.
- Struthers, W.M. (2006) Neuroscience and the Imago Dei. The Center for Faith and Scholarship, Ann Arbor, MI.
- Struthers,
W.M. (2006) The Seven Deadly Temptations of Neuroethics.
Neuroethics: The New Frontier, Center for Bioethics and
Human Dignity, July 13-15, Deerfield, IL.
- Struthers,
W.M. (2005) Evangelical
Neuroethics 101: Mapping the Minefield. Meeting of
the Christian Neuroscience Society, Washington, DC.
- Struthers,
William M. (2005) The
Neurobiology of the Relationship-Oriented Mind. The
“Nature” of Belief: Evolutionary Explanation,
Biological Function, and Divine Purpose,
Grand Rapids, MI.
- Struthers, W.M.; DuPriest, A; and Runyan,
J. (2005) Habituation Reduces
Novelty-Induced FOS Expression in the Striatum and Cingulate
Cortex. Experimental Brain Research, Vol 167(1),
136-140.
- Struthers, William M. (2005) Snark or
Boojum? Trends
in the Integration of Psychology and Christianity.
Journal of Psychology and Christianity, Vol 24(3), 195-209.
- Struthers, W.M. (2005) What is the Mind-Brain Problem?.
In: Not
Just Science. Eds. Chappell, Dorothy F. and Cook,
E. David. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI.
- Struthers, W.M. (2004) Descartes'
Error Revisited: The Pineal Gland, Cingulate Cortex and
the Neuroscience of Volition. American Scientific Affiliation
59th Annual Meeting, Langley, BC.
- Ambert, K. and Struthers, W.M. (2003) Rearing
in Enriched Environments Reduces Novelty-Shuttling Induced
FOS Expression in the Cingulate Cortex and Striatum.
Society for Neuroscience 33rd Annual Meeting, New Orleans,
LA.
- Struthers, William M. (2003) Teaching
Neuroscience at a Religious Institution: Pedagogical Models
for Handling Neuroscience and Theology. Journal of Undergraduate
Neuroscience Education, Vol 1 (2), A36-A40.
- Struthers, W.M. (2002) Neuroscience
and Theology: Connecting God, Soul and Cortex. Meeting
of the Christian Neuroscience Society, Orlando, FL.
- Struthers, W.M. (2001) Sex-Induced
FOS in the Medial Preoptic Area: Projections to the Midbrain.
NeuroReport, Vol 12, 3065-3068.
- Struthers, William M. (2001) Defining
Consciousness: Christian and Psychological Perspectives,
Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, Vol 53 (2),
102-106.
Complete Vita
Dr. Struthers' Recommended Reading
List for Students
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