The aim of the Experimental Health Psychology Laboratory project is to provide undergraduates with the opportunity to investigate interactions among various factors implicated in the etiology and progression of disease and in the promotion of health. The laboratory equipment includes a carbon monoxide analyzer, a breath alcohol analyzer, an accelerometer-based physical activity monitor, an ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate monitor, and a personal computer for data retrieval. Behavioral risk factors including cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, and sedentary lifestyle are known to contribute to the development of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. This laboratory will give students the chance to design and implement experiments that will explore interactions among psychological, behavioral, and physiological factors that may contribute to the development of disease. Undergraduate training in Health Psychology is becoming increasingly common, but the incorporation of extensive laboratory experience in this training has not been previously reported.
