Research Projects

Mapping CNS pathways responsible for aggression and social rank

Crickets have long been used as a model for the study of aggression. When two male crickets are put together, they begin to perform a stereotyped, escalating sequence of fighting behavior that concludes with the establishment of a dominant (winner) and subordinate (loser). Following establishment, dominant and subordinate males exhibit characteristic behaviors associated with their newly obtained social rank. The dominant male will chirp aggressively, approach and chase the subordinate male which hastily retreats. We are performing experiments to locate the specific neural pathways in the brains of fought males responsible for generating these rank specific behaviors.

To do this, we are examining brain specific changes in Fos, the protein product of the immediate early gene c-fos. An increase in Fos protein can be observed in neurons that have been recently activated. We are using Western blot analysis to determine the time course of Fos protein expression changes in the brain, and immunocytochemistry to locate neurons in both dominant and subordinate males that show an increase in Fos protein.

Mapping CNS pathways

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