Research Projects

Changes in escape behaviors during mating and fighting

An animal's previous social experiences can affect its behavior and we are examining how these social interactions produce corresponding changes in the brain. Through behavioral assays, we have shown that the escape behaviors of male and female crickets are suppressed during courtship and mating, while the escape responses expressed by dominant and subordinate male crickets can vary following a fight. Electrophysiological recordings allow us to characterize and map the neural circuits responsible for producing a specific behavioral output. We can also examine how the synaptic connections in these circuits can be modified during specific social interactions such as mating and fighting, or during simple forms of learning. Such experiments can help us to better understand how an animal's motivational state can have short- or long- term effects on brain function.

Changes in escape behaviors during mating and fighting

Click below to see other research projects.

• Changes in escape behaviors during mating and fighting
• Biogenic amines and motivational behavior
• Mapping CNS pathways responsible for aggression and social rank
• Neurogenesis and social rank memory formation