Centre College's Lily Brooks published in research journal

DANVILLE, KY (04/01/2011)(readMedia)--  Lily Brooks of Harrodsburg, a freshman at Centre College, is part of a group whose collaborative research has been published in the Feb. 3, 2011 edition of the journal Brain Research.

The paper, "Increasing proportions of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive interneurons colocalize with choline acetyltransferase or vasoactive intestinal peptide in the developing rat cerebral cortex," is authored by Centre Professor Steve Asmus and eight student collaborators.

"Our study examined the neurotransmitters produced in a subset of neurons in the rat cerebral cortex, which is the region of the brain that functions in higher cognition," Asmus says.

Brooks, who says that when she began doing the research with Asmus she knew very little about the subject, says, "By the end of my time researching, I was able to discuss the subject in an informed manner. Learning is enhanced in the research environment because it's hands-on and team effort. I learned from Dr. Asmus, my fellow researchers, books, other research papers and from carrying out the research."

She adds that "this research was a team effort, and it helped prepare me for the team setting that is often present in many aspects of life. It was also a setting that provided knowledge that can't be found in the classroom. There won't always be classrooms and teachers in life, but learning is something that people should do and want to do for the rest of their lives."

Brooks is the daughter of Paul and Theresa Brooks of Harrodsburg and is a graduate of Mercer County Senior High.

Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Forbes magazine ranks Centre 24th among all the nation's colleges and universities and has named Centre No. 1 among all institutions of higher education in the South for two years in a row. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices.