Neuroscience Research Showcase

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  Influences of Dietary Enrichment in Juvenile and Adult Male Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia Castanotis) on Cheek Patch Growth and Color

  Carley Craig, Mathew Thibodeaux, Mary Tharp, Gabrielle Morris, Woodward Young, Belinda Bagwandeen, and Lainy B. Day

  Zebra finches (ZF) are sexually dimorphic. In captive ZFs, enriched diets increase cheek area and alter color, increasing adult male attractiveness. In the wild, breeding and brooding occur when proteinaceous seeds available. Our experiment tests whether supplemental egg food benefits captive non-breeding adults and juveniles.Pre-experiment, adults fed eggs, cuttlebone & bread 2x week. Other facets of our experiment showed enriched diet led to decreased reactive CORT levels and increased body mass, with the largest increase in females.

  All authors are affiliated with the University of Mississippi Department of Biology and Neuroscience Minor.

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  Identifying the Distribution of Peptide Hormones Regulating Adrenal and Gonadal Steroids in the Brains of Diploid and Polypoid Treefrogs

  Jordan Jackson, Chris J. Leary, and Lainy B. Day

  Hypothesis: polyploidization altered the relative expression levels of hormone receptors > altered regulation of circulating hormone levels and influence hormone interactions, or mutation of duplicated receptor coding genes. RNAseq - expression levels and sequences of receptors in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) and hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal/ interrenal (HPA/I) axes

  All authors are affiliated with the University of Mississippi Department of Biology.

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  Novel tests for motor and spatial deficits in zebra finches verify a role for aromatase and estradiol in improving spatial but not motor outcomes post-cerebellar lesion

  Simran Patel, Lainy B. Day, Mathew Thibodeaux, Demetria Tolbert, Chyna-Rae Dearman, Gerald W. Stinson, Joshua Hamer, John C. Garner, and Dwight Waddell

  Objective: Test the role of Arom and E2 in recovery of zebra finch posture and spatial learning post-CB lesion.

  Simran Patel^1,2, Lainy B. Day¹, Mathew Thibodeaux¹, Demetria Tolbert^1,2, Chyna-Rae Dearman¹, Gerald W. Stinson¹, Joshua Hamer¹, John C. Garner³, Dwight Waddell ⁴ (¹ Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University MS; ² Mississippi INBRE Research Scholar, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg MS; ³ Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, Troy University, Troy, AL 36082; ⁴ Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677)

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  The Effects of Acute Hypoxia Exposure on Cognitive Function

  John W. Sepko, Zakary Patrick, Parker Wilkerson, Madison Hulsey, and Paul D. Loprizini

  Introduction: There is conflicting literature as to the effects of varying levels of hypoxia on cognition. Recent work by Loprinzi et al. (2019) demonstrated that moderate levels of hypoxia exposure increased memory (cognitive) performance. However, research investigating severe hypoxic exposure has shown immediate cognitive impairments (Nation, 2017). To reconcile these mixed findings, the present study aimed to investigate the extent to which varying levels of hypoxia affect cognition. Methods: Eighty-seven participants were recruited using convenience sampling at the University of Mississippi and completed a within-subject study design. The first lab visit was conducted for familiarizing the participant to the lab equipment, the cognitive task utilized, and the study protocol. During the second visit, participants were exposed to three different experimental conditions, Normoxia (20.5% FIO2), Moderate Hypoxia (15.0% FIO2), and Severe Hypoxia (10.5% FIO2) via breathing in lower concentrations of oxygen within a gas mixture for 10 minutes and then completed a Modified Stroop cognitive assessment at the end of each condition. Each counterbalanced condition was separated by a 10-minute resting period to ensure HR and SpO2 values returned to baseline. Overall accuracy and reaction time for each trial were recorded. With accuracy and reaction times as separate outcomes, a one-factor (Condition: Normoxia, Moderate, Severe) repeated measures ANOVA was employed; models were computed separately for the three item types from the Stroop task, including naming, inhibition, and switch. Results: For accuracy of naming, inhibition, and switch trials across the conditions, we observed a main effect of Condition for Naming (F = 4.325, p = .015) and Switch (F = 4.206, p = .016), but not Inhibition (F = 2.304, p = .103). Conclusion: Regarding the effects of hypoxia on Stroop cognitive performance, we provide evidence of cognitive impairment during severe hypoxia exposure.

  All authors are affiliated with the Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA.

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  Sex Differences in the Role of Estradiol on Recovery after Cerebellar Lesion in the Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia castanotis)

  Mathew Thibodeaux, Chyna-Rae Dearman, and Lainy B. Day

  Purpose:

  • Test sex differences in a spatial (Escape Maze) and motor task (Log Roll)
  • Manipulate E2 and aromatase levels in order to differentiate roles of E2 and aromatase in recovery post-CB lesion
  • Confirm steroids aid recovery in spatial but not motor tasks post-CB lesion
  • Determine whether steroids differentially influence male and female recovery in cognitive and motor tasks

  Mathew Thibodeaux¹, Chyna-Rae Dearman¹, Lainy B. Day^1,2 (¹Department of Biology & ²Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Minor, University of Mississippi)

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  The effects of estradiol and genistein on cerebellar neuroprotection in zebra finches

  Grace Thompson, Renee E. Breaux, Emily McFatridge, Sarah Chong, Ethan Zadronzy, Estelle Blair, and Lainy B. Day

  Introduction:

  • Brain damage causes a secondary wave of degeneration
  • Aromatase is upregulated in glia post-injury
  • Aromatase (AROM) converts testosterone to estradiol (E₂) E₂ is neuroprotective and limits cell death
  • E₂ is linked to cancer, stroke, and male infertility Genistein (GEN) is a soybean phytoestrogen with strong estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) affinity
  • Genistein could be used clinically for neuroprotection
  • ERβ receptors are abundant in the cerebellum AROM expression in the cerebellum is constitutively low
  • Zebra Finch (ZF) brains have high neuroplasticity
  • The ZF cerebellum is ideal for neuroplasticity research

  All authors are affiliated with the University of Mississippi Department of Biology.

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  Effects of dietary enrichment on behavior and neurogenesis

  Belinda J. Bagwandeen and Lainy B. Day

  Proposed Research

  Graduate Student:Belinda J. Bagwandeen, Biology

  Major/minor:Biology

  Research advisor:Dr. Lainy Day

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  Neuroprotective effects of estradiol and genistein in zebra finch cerebellum

  Renee E. Breaux, Sarah Chong, Chyna-Rae Dearman, and Lainy B. Day

  Summary of Research Topic

  Undergraduate Students:Renee E. Breaux, Biology; Sarah Chong, Biology; Chyna-Rae Dearman, Biology

  Major/minor:Biology/Chemistry

  Research advisor:Dr. Lainy Day

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  Sex Differences on the Role of Estradiol on Recovery after Cerebellar Lesion in the Zebra Finch

  Catherine Kania, Tré Echoles, and Lainy B. Day

  Work in Progress

  Undergraduate Students:Catherine Kania, Biology; Tré Echoles, Neuroscience Minor

  Major/minor:Biology

  Research advisor:Dr. Lainy Day

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  Sex differences in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis’ response to stress in adult HIV Tat transgenic mice

  Salahuddin Mohammed, Fakhri Mahdi, and Jason Paris

  Completed Research

  Graduate Students:Salahuddin Mohammed, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology Major; Fakhri Mahdi, Pharmacology

  Major/minor:Pharmacology

  Research advisor:Dr. Jason Paris

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  Nesting Behavior of Zebra Finches

  Asma Obad, Zahra Jiwani, and Lainy B. Day

  Work performed by a lab.

  Undergraduate students:Asma Obad, Biology; Zahra Jiwani, Biology and Neuroscience Minor

  Major/minor:Biology

  Research advisor:Dr. Lainy Day

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  Premature Age-Related Co-Morbidities In HIV-1 Tat Transgenic Mice That Are Moderated By Aging and Endocrine Status

  Alaa N. Qrareya, Fakhri Mahdi, Nicole Ashpole, and Jason Paris

  Completed Research

  Graduate Students:Alaa N Qrareya, BioMolecular Sciences, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science; Fakhri Mahdi, BioMolecular Sciences, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science; Nicole Ashpole, BioMolecular Sciences, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science

  Major/minor:Pharmacology

  Research advisor:Dr. Jason Paris

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  Acquired Neurogenic Stuttering Associated With Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke

  Emily B. Robinson and Myriam Kornisch

  Summary of Research Topic

  Undergraduate students:Emily B. Robinson, Neuroscience Minor

  Major/minor:Psychology/Neuroscience

  Research advisor:Dr. Myriam Kornisch

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  Does access to interactive objects affect corticosterone and stress-related behavioral measures in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)?

  Laura West and Lainy B. Day

  Proposed Research

  Graduate Student:Laura West, Biology

  Major/minor:Biology

  Research advisor:Dr. Lainy Day

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  Mechanistic insights into conformational changes that accompany the binding of negative allosteric modulators to the cannabinoid receptor 1

  AyoOluwa Aderibigbe, Pankaj Pandey, and Robert J. Doerksen

  Graduate students: AyoOluwa Aderibigbe, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, Division of Medicinal Chemistry; Pankaj Pandey, National Center for Natural Products Research
  Major/Minor: Pharmaceutical Sciences
  Faculty advisor: Robert J. Doerksen, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy

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  No Sex Differences in Spatial Memory Ability or Response to Aromatase Inhibition after Cerebellar Lesion in Zebra Finches

  Chyna-Rae Dearman, Logan Boutwell, Zahra Jiwani, and Emily McFatridge

  Graduate students: Chyna-Rae Dearman, Department of Biology; Logan Boutwell, Department of Biology; Zahra Jiwani, Department of Biology, Neuroscience Minor; Emily McFatridge, Department of Biology; Jervia Powell, MS INBRE Scholar, Department of Biology, Alcorn State University; Tre Echoles, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Minor, McNair Scholar
  Major/Minor: Biology
  Faculty advisor: Lainy B. Day, Department of Biology, Neuroscience Minor

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  Effects of intermittent episodes of social stress on reward-seeking and avoidance behaviors

  Elizabeth Hewitt, Christopher Lemon, and Alberto del Arco

  Undergraduate students: Elizabeth Hewitt, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Minor; Christopher Lemon, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Minor
  Major/Minor:
  Major: Psychology; Minor: Chemistry, Neuroscience
  Faculty advisor: Alberto del Arco, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Sports Recreation Management, School of Applied Sciences

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  Exploration of Cerebellar Function in Taeniopygia Guttata Using Spatial Maze and Log Roll

  Zahra Jiwani, Catherine Kania, and Perry Mullins

  Undergraduate students: Zahra Jiwani, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Minor; Catherine Kania, Department of Biology; Perry Mullins, Department of Biology
  Major/Minor: Minor: Neuroscience
  Faculty advisor: Lainy B. Day, Department of Biology, Neuroscience Minor

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  Effects of Intermittent Episodes of Social Stress on the Motivation to Seek Rewards

  Christopher Lemon and Alberto del Arco

  Undergraduate students: Christopher Lemon, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience Minor
  Major/Minor: Major: Psychology; Minor: Chemistry, Neuroscience
  Faculty advisor: Alberto del Arco, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Sports Recreation Management, School of Applied Sciences

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  Neuroprotective Effects of Estradiol and Genistein in Zebra Finch Cerebellum

  Emily McFatridge, Sarah Chong, Ethan G. Zadrozny, and Estelle Blair

  Undergraduate students: Emily McFatridge, Department of Biology; Sarah Chong, Department of Biology, MS INBRE Scholar; Ethan G. Zadrozny, Department of Psychology, MS INBRE Scholar; Estelle Blair, Department of Biology, Neuroscience Minor, CORE NPN Research Scholar; Chyna-Rae Dearman, Department of Biology
  Major/Minor: Minor: Neuroscience
  Faculty advisor: Lainy B. Day, Department of Biology, Neuroscience Minor

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  HIV-1 Tat Dysregulates the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Stress Axis and Potentiates Oxycodone-mediated Psychomotor and Anxiety-like Behavior of Male Mice

  Salahuddin Mohammed, Fakhri Mahdi, Alaa N. Qrareya, and Jason J. Paris

  Graduate students: Salahuddin Mohammed, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy; Fakhri Mahdi, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy; Alaa N. Qrareya, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy
  Major/Minor: Major: Pharmaceutical Science, School of Pharmacy
  Faculty advisor: Jason J. Paris, Department of BioMolecular Sciences,Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Pharmacy

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  Novel Understanding of Avian Biomechanics and Sonations Using High-Speed Video of the White-Ruffed Manakin (Corapipo Altera Altera)

  Luke Nguyen, W. Alice Boyle, Elsie Shogren, and Natasha Bergevine

  Undergraduate students: Luke Nguyen, Department of Biology; W. Alice Boyle, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; Elsie Shogren, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS; Natasha Bergevine, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
  Major/Minor: Major: Biochemistry
  Faculty advisor: Lainy B. Day, Department of Biology, Neuroscience Minor

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  HIV-1 Tat Promotes Age-Related Cognitive, Anxiety-like, and Antinociceptive Impairments in Mice that are Moderated by Aging Endocrine Status

  Alaa Qrareya, Fakhri Mahdi, Marc Kaufman, and Nicole M. Ashpole

  Graduate students: Alaa N. Qrareya, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy; Fakhri Mahdi, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy; Marc Kaufman, Translational Imaging Center, The McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard University; Nicole M. Ashpole, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science
  Major/Minor: Major: Biology, Neuroscience Minor
  Faculty advisor: Jason J. Paris, Department of BioMolecular Sciences,Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Pharmacy

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  Effects of repeated intermittent episodes of social stress on the acquisition and extinction of a reward-seeking task

  Nikki Sullivan, Hannah Shaffer, and Alberto del Arco

  Undergraduate students: Nikki Sullivan, Department of Biology, Neuroscience Minor; Hanna Shaffer, Department of Biology
  Major/Minor: Major: Biology, Neuroscience, Chemistry
  Faculty advisor: Alberto del Arco, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Sports Recreation Management, School of Applied Sciences

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  Validating Methods for Estimating Endocranial Volume in Manakins (Aves, Pipridae)

  Derrick Thornton and Lainy B. Day

  Undergraduate students: Derrick Thornton, Department of Biology, Neuroscience Minor
  Major/Minor: Major: Biology, Psychology
  Faculty advisor: Lainy B. Day, Department of Biology, Neuroscience Minor