Rivulus as a model for autism research

Project I: Genetic variation underlying social behavior

Project II: Fear learning and the role of the fish oxytocin-homologue, isotocin + relationships with brain region sizes

Rivulus as a model for understanding traumatic brain injury

Project I: Chemical interventions to prevent or rescue traumatic brain injury-induced behavioral deficits
Collaboration with Dr. Lukasz Ciesla’s Lab at UA

Project II: Age-related effects of traumatic brain injury on behavior and brain function

Neurogenesis & Social Behavior Team:

Examining the role of alpha-7 nicotinic acetycholine receptors in social context-induced neurogenesis

Immunohistochemistry & Histology Team:

Exploring the distribution of phosphorylated tau protein, arginine vasotocin, BrdU in brains and muscle fiber distribution in the tail of rivulus

Parental Care Team:

Examining patterns of investment in offspring, both pre-natal and post-natal

Emotions in Animals Teams:

Project I: Launching our first formal investigation into emotions in mangrove rivulus fish.

Project II: Cross-contextual changes in behavior