Principal Investigators and Program Directors

Research Interests

Mossy fibers, part of the well characterized hippocampus circuitry, are thought to play a role in spatial learning and memory.

In our behavior neurogenetics laboratory we study the role of genetics in complex behaviors.

Over the past decade much attention has been focused on the role of genetics in learning and memory and a number of genes have been recognized as playing pivotal roles. However, this process is complex and influenced by many genes. In our research we investigate learning and memory and related neuroanatomical structures in genetically defined mouse strains. This enables us to examine the interrelationships among genes, brain and behavior. We recently identified several chromosomal regions that are involved in specific learning and memory deficits and are doing further studies to identify the genes involved.

Autism is a behavioral defined disorder with symptoms that include impairments in social interactions, cognitive inflexibility, language difficulties, and repetitive motor behaviors. Assumed to be the result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors, the precise etiology of autism remains elusive. While autism cannot be easily translated to the mouse, we can use mice to elucidate some of the fundamental characteristics. We recently discovered that the BTBR T+ tf/J mouse displays several autism-like behaviors and are studying this strain in more detail to elucidate the underlying genes and brain structures.

Contact Information

E-mail: bolivar@wadsworth.org

Key Words: autism, complex behavior, quantitative trait loci, spatial memory