Behavior & Neurobiology Teams

Mating Behavior in Mangrove Rivulus:

Exploring multimodal cues in sex and mate recognition

Neurobiology of Behavior & Autism Team:

Exploring rivulus as a potential model for neurobiology and autism research

Project I: Genetic polymorphisms and neuroanatomical differences underlying variation in habituation rates

Project II: Fear learning and the role of the fish oxytocin-homologue, isotocin

Traumatic Brain Injury Teams:

Examining the utility of rivulus as a model for understanding the biology of concussions

* Collaboration with Dr. Andrea Glenn (UA, Department of Psychology)

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: Examining the effects of traumatic brain injury on the expression of aggressive and impulsive behavior.

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

Neurogenesis & Social Behavior Team:

Examining the role of alpha7 nicotinic acetycholine receptors in social context-induced neurogenesis

Parental Care Team:

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

Winner & Loser Effects (“Fight Club”) Team:

Examining how the neural mechanisms underlying long-term potentiation affect changes in behavior following an aggressive contest.

Emotions in Animals Teams:

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

Project II: Cross-contextual changes in behavior

The “Third Eye” Team:

Investigating variation in the “third eye” of reptiles
Collaboration with Dr. Gordon Schuett

Salinity Preference Team:

​Investigating salinity preference in mangrove fishes

Cleaner-Client Relationships Team:

Exploring cleaner shrimp – client relationships and developing methods in animal behavior
Collaboration with Dr. Benjamin Titus