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Research Activities
My general research interests are in the area of behavioral neuroscience with an emphasis on brain-behavior relationships. The general theme of my current research interests deals with biological defence mechanisms related to the solution of a variety of problems that organisms encounter in attempting to gain resources from the environment. Several core research projects consist of: a) examining how animals obtain food and water while minimizing exposure to associated toxins; b) how animals cope with, and defend against, infectious agents; c) how animals learn to navigate in the environment in search of required resources and defend against the risk of predation. These projects attempt to relate both proximate and ultimate factors to the particular neural and behavioral mechanisms, with special focus on sex differences and the role of gonadal and stress hormones. I also have an interest in the biological effects of electromagnetic fields and, more recently, in the psychobiological basis for autism spectrum disorders in humans.
My laboratory uses a number of automated techniques to a) quantify locomotor activity (Digiscan Automated Activity System) in rodents (rats, mice, voles) b) to continuously monitor food and water intake c) to monitor licking patterns during a liquid meal, and d) to quantify locomotor motor activity and chamber preference in an automate Place Preference Conditioning apparatus. We also use an automated light-dark apparatus to examine anxiety related behaviors. We employ detailed behavioral scoring from videotape to quantify behaviors in the Taste Reactivity Test, the Conditioned Anticipatory Nausea Paradigm, and in social interaction tests. We also have access to a large Morris Water Maze, Plus Maze, Barnes Maze, and a variety of radial mazes.
I have collaborated on a variety of research projects with a number of faculty members from our department (most notably Martin Kavaliers), as well as from other Universities in Canada, the USA and Europe. I am also involved with the "Kilee Patchell-Evans Research Group for Autism and Related Disorders" and the "Neuroendocrinology and Behavior Research Group".
Past and Present Research Interests:
• Immune system activation and sickness behaviors
• Environmental influences on the expression of sickness behaviors
• Behavioral tolerance development to immune system activation
• Gustatory conditioning with food associated toxins
• Influence of stress hormones on learning and memory
• Influence of gonadal hormones on feeding behavior
• Influence of peptide hormones on feeding
• Social influences on feeding and gustatory learning
• Animal models of motion sickness
• Influence of predator odors on learning and memory
• Animal models of behavioral disorders
• Open-field behavior in rodents
• Measuring locomotor activity as a methodological tool in behavior analysis
• Place preference conditioning in rodents
• Animal models of autism
• Animal models of anxiety
• Dopamine system and behavioral sensitization development
• Influence of powerline electromagnetic fields on brain electrical activity
• Influence of powerline electromagnetic fields on drug-induced analgesia
Current Lab Members:
Kelly Foley, Ph.D.- Neuroscience student ( )
Jessica Benzaquen, M.Sc. - Neuroscience student ( )
Melissa Chan, M.Sc. - Neuroscience student ( )
Caylen Cloutier, M.Sc. - Psychology student ( )
Melissa Meeking, M.Sc., - Neuroscience student ( )
Jennifer Mepham, M.Sc., - Neuroscience student ( )
Research Associate, - Dr. Shelley Cross-Mellor
Past Members:
Postdoctoral Fellows (NSERC): Dr. Elena Choleris, Dr. Cheryl Limebeer
Graduate Students: (Ph.D.) - Sharon Clarke, Shelley Cross-Mellor, Lisa Eckel, Chris Engeland, Melissa Fudge, Liisa Galea, Ricki Ladowsky, Tara Perrot-Sinal, Christine Tenk; (M.Sc.) - Shelley Cross, Lisa Eckel, Kelly Foley, Melissa Fudge, Andrew Franklin, Jennifer Hoffman, Bill Kent, Ricki Ladowsky, Andrew Lockey, Lyndsay Martin, Jennifer Martins, Lesley Ruttan, Soaleha Shams, Christine Tenk, Susan Tessier, Alex Thomas
Undergraduates: M. A. Zaltzman, M. Kazmierczak, A. Hill, M. Chan, C. Cloutier, E. Biagi, A. Campbell, S. Aronson, J. Gibson, M. Dekens, A. George, J. Martins, S. Devane, J. Hoffman, L. Martin, M. Gutz, C. Chariot, K. Newland, K. Zaki, D. Cheung, D. Nielsen, K. Sullivan, H. Ranu, N. Heidebrecht, D. Krieger, S. Millar, K. Shaw, M. Fowler, C. Marczinski, D. Kinsella, B. Navarro, A. Splinter, Y. Rabi, E. Tan, L. Saksida, H. Song, D. Robinson, J. Krusky, T. McCarty, M. Bettin, G. Shearer, A. Prkacin, M. Bevan, L. Gabora, L. MacRae, K. Desborough, T. Wenske, P. Rose, M. Northcott, D. Tysdale, E. Viire,
NSERC Summer Students: S. Anderson, M. Chan, K. Foley, D. Kinsella, A. Lockey, J. McKay, Y Rabi
Assistants and Technicians: S. Devane, A. Franklin, N. Frisken, L. Giugno, S. Smith, C. Sutherland, G. Tu
