Research
I am interested in the cognitive capacity of animals; that is how animals are making decisions and why they are making them. Animals are constantly having to learn new things about their environment and adapt their behavior in relation to the current environment. In order for these behavioral adaptations to manifest, the brain must be activating a number of neuroendocrinal pathways to respond to the environmental cue.
A number of animal studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between physical activity and neurogenesis (the formation of new neurons). It is thought that these new neurons may mediate, in part, improved spatial learning due to the fact the changes are occurring in the part of the brain involved in processing spatial learning and memory. However, the exact mechanisms behind exercise-enduced neurogenesis and improved learning are unknown, since changes in neurotransmitter and neurotrophin levels are also known to occur after exercise. In addition, it has been recently shown that spatial pattern separation (the segregation of very similar spatial experiences into discrete events) is linked to neurogenesis, suggesting this might be related to exercise-induced changes in the brain.
My research aims to use zebrafish to look at the mechanisms behind exercise-induced neurogenesis as well as to investigate the different types of learning that are affected. We use flumes to exercise the fish, test their cognitive capacity in spatial tasks and then use different visualization techniques to assess changes in the brain (e.g. histology, MRI, contrast-enhanced micro-CT). My research integrates aspects of behavior, neurobiology and physiology to understand the effects of exercise on brain and behavior.
There are three specific aims to my research:
1. To look at the mechanisms behind neurogenesis
The objective here is to assess changes in the brain that are linked to exercise-enhanced neurogenesis by looking at key areas of the fish brain, namely the telencephalon (the area of the brain involved in spatial learning and memory and modulating the stress response) and the cerebellum (coordination and balance).
2. To test for changes in spatial learning
The objective here is to use different spatial tasks that assess learning (increased complexity of the task) and to develop a test to measure spatial pattern separation in fish.
3. To look at the effect of different exercise regimes and paradigms
The objective here is to understand how intensity and duration affect neurogenesis and ultimately learning.
A number of animal studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between physical activity and neurogenesis (the formation of new neurons). It is thought that these new neurons may mediate, in part, improved spatial learning due to the fact the changes are occurring in the part of the brain involved in processing spatial learning and memory. However, the exact mechanisms behind exercise-enduced neurogenesis and improved learning are unknown, since changes in neurotransmitter and neurotrophin levels are also known to occur after exercise. In addition, it has been recently shown that spatial pattern separation (the segregation of very similar spatial experiences into discrete events) is linked to neurogenesis, suggesting this might be related to exercise-induced changes in the brain.
My research aims to use zebrafish to look at the mechanisms behind exercise-induced neurogenesis as well as to investigate the different types of learning that are affected. We use flumes to exercise the fish, test their cognitive capacity in spatial tasks and then use different visualization techniques to assess changes in the brain (e.g. histology, MRI, contrast-enhanced micro-CT). My research integrates aspects of behavior, neurobiology and physiology to understand the effects of exercise on brain and behavior.
There are three specific aims to my research:
1. To look at the mechanisms behind neurogenesis
The objective here is to assess changes in the brain that are linked to exercise-enhanced neurogenesis by looking at key areas of the fish brain, namely the telencephalon (the area of the brain involved in spatial learning and memory and modulating the stress response) and the cerebellum (coordination and balance).
2. To test for changes in spatial learning
The objective here is to use different spatial tasks that assess learning (increased complexity of the task) and to develop a test to measure spatial pattern separation in fish.
3. To look at the effect of different exercise regimes and paradigms
The objective here is to understand how intensity and duration affect neurogenesis and ultimately learning.