Office Hours:
TR 3:30-4:30
(Psychology 350 T.A.)

Interests

Using male Long-Evans rats as a model I previously studied the relationship between voluntary running and glutamate- and K+-stimulated dopamine release in the striatum (nucleus accumbens and caudate-putamen). Results: The average daily running distance was negatively correlated with K+-stimulated dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens core and caudate-putamen, but not the nucleus accumbens shell. Conclusions: This suggests decreased depolarization-induced release of striatal dopamine may be a predictor of hyperactivity, and some individuals may display some of the neurochemical and behavioral characteristics of a rat model for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Currently I study spatial learning and memory in Black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapilla) - a scatter-hoarding bird. We have been studying the effect of captivity on the hippocampus in adult wild birds specifically. We have found that 6 weeks captivity causes a reduction in hippocampal volume of approximately 24%, but does not cause a reduction in size of the telencephalon, number, or density of new cells. We are currently studying the proximate nature and cause/s of hippocampal structural and functional change in adult wild food-storing birds as a result of captivity, to better understand the effects of stress, lack of hippocampal stimulation (food-storing), exercise and social-interaction on the hippocampus generally.

Behavior & Evolutionary Neuroscience

updated on Thursday, Aug 23 2007 @ 2:34pm

Graduate Field of Psychology: The interdisciplinary program for the graduate study of Psychology at Cornell University.

Apply to the Graduate Program:

• The application form
• Application information FAQ
• Cornell Grad Psychology
• Cornell Grad School

Chair's Statement
It is a pleasure and an honor to be associated with all the people devoted to the study of psychology here in the Department of Psychology at Cornell University. Our undergraduate students are extremely talented & enthusiastic, our graduate students are a select, creative group of young investigators, our faculty <more>

Events Calendar


• Sat, Jul 5, 2008
  
• Sat, Jul 5, 2008
  

Want to be in an
experiment? Schedule
one today, online, with
SUSAN.

Requirements for admission to the Undergraduate Major in Psychology.

Labs | Participate | Alumni | Undergraduate | Jobs
211 Uris Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA
Phone: (607) 255-3834 Fax: (607) 255-8433