Research Projects

Neurogenesis and social rank memory formation

Recent research has suggested that newly generated neurons may play a role in learning and memory processes. Prior behavioral results in our laboratory suggest that male crickets can maintain a memory of their social rank for at least 24 hours following a fight. We are trying to determine if adult neurogenesis contributes to the maintenance of this memory by injecting recently fought dominant and subordinate male crickets with BrdU, a marker of cell proliferation. Brains are then processed for BrdU immunocytochemistry, which allows us to locate and map the locations of newly generated brain cells. We are also using immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy to determine which of these newly generated cells become mature neurons or glia. Our goal in the future is to use electrophysiological recording techniques to map the time course of this maturation and to determine when these new adult neurons will become fully functional components of the brain. Our findings could contribute to an understanding of how adult brains can regenerate and re-build damaged neural circuits.

Neurogenesis and social rank memory formation

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