Dr. Frederick Prete is wearing black glasses and a white collared shirt as he stares at the camera in front of a red building and a grassy lawn
Frederick
R.
Prete
Senior Instructor
Biology
College of Arts and Sciences
(773) 442-5724
Expertise
Biological Psychology, Neurophysiology, Brain Function and the Evolution of Sensory Systems
Courses Taught
Introduction to Biology (BIO 100)
General Biology II (BIO 202)
Vertebrate Physiology (BIO 360)
Neurobiology (BIO 365)
Biology Senior Seminar (BIO 390)
Animal Behavior (BIO 415)
Comparative Animal Physiology (BIO 471)
Research Interests
My current research is centered on the development of haptic-enhanced mobility aids for children who are blind and visually impaired. My lab integrates cutting-edge technology, artificial intelligence, neurobiology, and psychology with the hope of enhancing the lives of young people facing visual challenges.

Keywords: Neurobiology, vision, assistive technology, blind/visually impaired, haptics
Education

Ph.D. in Biological Psychology from The University of Chicago

B.A. in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago

Selected Publications

Undergraduate students are underlined

Prete FR, Schirmer AE, Patel S, Carrion C, Prete GM, van Alphen B, Svenson GJ (2019). The first analysis of discontinuous ventilatory abdominal pulsations in praying mantises. Fragmenta Entomologica, 51: 29-39 https://rosa.uniroma1.it/rosa02/fragmenta_entomologica/article/view/332/346

Schirmer A, Prete FR, Mantes ES, Urdiales AF, Bogue W (2014) Circadian rhythms affect electroretinogram, compound eye color, striking behavior and locomotion of the praying mantis Hierodula patellifera. Journal Experimental Biology, 217: 3853-3861 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25214491/

Prete FR, R Theis, Dominguez S, Bogue W  (2013) Visual Stimuli Eliciting Tracking and Striking in the Praying Mantises, Parasphendale affinis (Giglio-Tos), Popa spurca (Stål), and Sphodromantis lineola (Burmeister). Journal of Experimental Biology, 216: 4443-53

Popkiewicz B, FR Prete (2013) Macroscopic Characteristics of the Praying Mantis Electroretinogram, Journal of Insect Physiology, 59: 812–823

Prete FR, Dominguez S, Komito JL, Theis R, Dominguez JM, Hurd LE, Svenson GJ, (2013) Appetitive Responses to Computer-Generated Visual Stimuli by Female Rhombodera basalis, Deroplatys lobata, Hierodula membranacea, and Miomantis sp. (Insecta: Mantodea), Journal of Insect Behavior, 26: 261-282. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10905-012-9340-x

Room BBH 344F
Northeastern Illinois University
5500 North St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

(773) 442-5724
Office Hours
Please email f-prete@neiu.edu to arrange to meet or speak with Dr. Prete.
El Centro
Main Campus