Biography
Professor Moes teaches Introduction to Psychology (151), Behavioral Neuroscience (343), and Statistics, Research Design (255), and Psychology and Religion (399). He received his Ph.D. in experimental psychology, with an emphasis in the "Chemistry of Behavior," from Texas Christian University combining his interest in psychology and physiology. In addition to teaching at Dordt College in Iowa for 18 years, Professor Moes had the opportunity to spend a year in St. Andrews, Scotland doing research with Professor Malcom Jeeves, a well-known Christian neuropsychologist and author of many books focusing on the integration of the left and right cerebral hemispheres, including a special focus on individuals born without the corpus callosum, which connects left and right hemispheres. He continues to reflect on, and write about Christian approaches to understanding brain function, personal responsibility and human nature.
Education
- M.S. (Montana State, 1979)
- Ph.D. (Texas Christian, 1982)
Professional Experience
- Regular participant in the International Neuropsychology Society Meeting
- Conducts student outcomes assessment
- Member, APS
Research
What happens when the brain doesn't become organized in the "typical" way? Professors Paul Moes (Psychology) and Loren Haarsma (Physics) have been studying what happens when a structure called the corpus callosum, which is a set of nerve cells connecting the two sides of the brain, doesn't develop as it should. Instead of growing to the other side ("hemisphere") of the brain, these nerve cells grow back into the same hemisphere. Professor Moes has studied human patients with this condition who show a variety of social and emotional difficulties (similar to autism), along with possible coordination problems and learning difficulties. But now the two professors are studying mice with this same condition. The primary goal of the study is to determine if the nerve cells that should have grown to the other side of the brain form communication networks with cells in the same hemisphere. Professor Haarsma's expertise in electrophysiology of nerve cells (using a "patch clamp" procedure) has allowed the two collaborators to explore the nature of brain reorganization and to learn more about the basic mechanisms of brain function. The advanced instruments used for this interdisciplinary study was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation and the summer research students (Charlotte DuLaney — Physics; Dan Evans — Engineering; Jonathan Wong — Biochemistry) have been funded by the college's Integrated Science Research Institute (ISRI).
Professional Services
- Regular participant in the International Neuropsychology Society Meeting
- Conducts student outcomes assessment
- Member, APS
Awards
External Funding Awards
2005 NSF Division of Biological Infrastructure, Major Research Instrumentation. Proposal Number: 052084. “Acquisition of Electrophysiology Patch-Clamp Equipment to Support Cross-Disciplinary Research and Undergraduate Research Training.” Principal Investigator: Loren Haarsma, Co-PI’s: Steve Matheson, John Ubels and Paul Moes.
2002-2003 NSF Department of Undergraduate Education, Track: Course Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement, Adaptation and Implementation. CDFA Number 47.076. "Adaptation and Implementation of an Electrophysiological Laboratory for Undergraduate Psychology and Physics Students." Principal investigator. ($12,689)
1987-1989 U.S. Dept. of Education Grant Recipient – Principal Investigator, ($42,000) Independent Schools: What Works. Washington D.C.. The Office of Education Research and Improvement (OERI), U.S. Department of Education.
Research and Scholarship
