A5068756671- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Spatial Cognition and Navigation
- Spatial Neglect and Hemispheric Dysfunction
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Child and Animal Learning Development
- Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
- Action Observation and Synchronization
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Categorization, perception, and language
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Visual perception and processing mechanisms
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
Brown University
2021-2025
Hologic (Germany)
2025
Providence College
2018-2024
John Brown University
2024
Bucknell University
2017
The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is an associative neocortical region that integrates multiple streams of information and implicated in spatial cognition decision making. In some cases, however, the PPC not required for these functions. One possibility recruited when complexity high. Yet, few studies function have explicitly manipulated environmental complexity, changes, or temporal structure tasks. To examine whether task recruits function, we tested rats with neurotoxic damage to dorsal...
Sociability is the act or quality of social interaction and can be quantified by determining number duration interactions with conspecifics. The purpose this study was to examine extent which sustained contact, as achieved constant living conditions, influenced behavior. Beginning in juvenility, 19 male Long-Evans rats were housed enriched environments, half socially a large group individually. After several months these housing tested on sociality test novelty preference test. Nonsocially...
ABSTRACT Background Evidence from the fields of evolutionary biology and neuroscience supports theory that spatial cognition social share neural mechanisms. Rodent models are widely used to study either or cognition, but few studies have explored interactions between cognitive domains due lack appropriate paradigms. New method Our introduces Vertical Maze (VM), a novel behavioral apparatus designed measure multiple aspects cognition. The VM features standard 3-chamber maze positioned above...
ABSTRACT Humans and other social animals can represent navigate complex networks of relationships in ways that are suggestive representation navigation space. There is some evidence cortical regions initially required for processing space have been adapted to include information. One candidate region supporting both spatial information the posterior parietal cortex (PPC). We examined hypothesis rats transfer or generalize distance across domains this phenomenon requires PPC. In a novel...
This study explores the potential morphological differences between pleurodiran and cryptodiran turtle shells. Pleurodires (Suborder Pleurodira), as suggested by their name, retract heads into shell bending neck to side; this is different from cryptodires Cryptodira), which withdraw necks along a sagittal plane. also have evolved unique pelvic morphology typified two columnar elements sutured both carapace plastron; in contrast, girdle loosely connected shell. These might put very selective...
Perseverance, also commonly referred to as grit or industriousness, is the continued effort exerted complete goal-directed tasks.Many factors, such stress, can contribute perseverative behavior, but role of sociality on perseverance in animal models has not been studied.In this experiment, was measured Long-Evans rats; half which were socially housed (SH) and other nonsocially (NSH).Rats placed a continuous T-maze; one arm maze contained an unobstructed low value reward high blocked by...
Metamemory involves the cognitive ability to assess strength of one's memories. To explore possibility metamemory in non-human animals, numerous behavioral tasks have been created, many which utilize an option decline memory tests. rats, we utilized this decline-test paradigm by adapting previous visual delayed-match-to-sample tests (DMTS)1,2 developed for primate species odor-based test suitable rodents. First, rats are given a sample remember digging cup scented sand. After delay, rat is...
Cognitive decline and changes in neuronal activity are hallmarks of advancing age, even the absence neurodegenerative diseases. Environmental factors, including sociality, exercise, diet, can protect against cognitive deficits old age. However, whether long-term social housing with environmental enrichment provides greater protection than alone, mechanisms this protective effect, remain unknown. Here, aged socially housed (SH), non-socially (NSH), young control (YC) rats were trained tested...
Metamemory involves the cognitive ability to assess strength of one's memories. To explore possibility metamemory in non-human animals, numerous behavioral tasks have been created, many which utilize an option decline memory tests. rats, we utilized this decline-test paradigm by adapting previous visual delayed-match-to-sample tests (DMTS)1,2 developed for primate species odor-based test suitable rodents. First, rats are given a sample remember digging cup scented sand. After delay, rat is...
Abstract Recent literature points to a potential link between the evolution of complex social behavior and posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in primates including humans (Parkinson & Wheatley, 2013). Thus far, this theory has been overlooked other highly animals that may have also evolved due selective pressures. In rodents, there is limited knowledge on involvement PPC sociality, most studies such are understanding preference. We investigated role through two experiments using 3-Chamber...