GABAA RECEPTORS IN THE PONTINE RETICULAR FORMATION OF C57BL/6J MOUSE MODULATE NEUROCHEMICAL, ELECTROGRAPHIC, AND BEHAVIORAL PHENOTYPES OF WAKEFULNESS by RaShonda

DEDICATION To my family ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS As I come to the completion of one chapter of my life and prepare to begin the next, I reflect upon a quote I have carried with me throughout my graduate studies from the African-American educator and author Booker T. Washington-" Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles by which s(he) has overcome while trying to succeed ". As I prepare to complete my PhD and leave The University of Michigan after six years, I reflect on the journey that brought me here, the experiences that shaped my time as a PhD student, and most importantly the people who were there along the way. I have been fortunate to have many people guiding and supporting me, and I am FOREVER indebted to them all. The first two people I want to thank are my advisors, Dr. Helen A. Baghdoyan and Dr. Ralph Lydic. Their role in my graduate education as both mentors and teachers was invaluable and I am grateful to them for their dedication to me throughout this journey. I would also like to thank the other members of my doctoral committee, Dr. whose guidance and feedback during my graduate years was much appreciated. I cannot forget to thank the faculty, staff, and students of both the Pharmacology and Anesthesiology Departments for all of their support and help along the way, many of you will remain lifelong friends. iii Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank ALL of my family and friends who have been with me throughout this journey, especially my parents and my sister. Your love, encouragement, and support made so much of this dream a reality. Words cannot express what you all mean to me, but know that my success is your success.