Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains Reserve

17 May, 12 AM - 17 May, 11 AM

Spatial memory capabilities are essential for survival in the wild. Recent work suggests that spatial memory is modulated by steroid hormones, such as estradiol and corticosterone. The goal of our work is to assess the relationship between steroid hormones and spatial memory in a wild bird that relies intensively on spatial memory, the Western scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica). Western scrub-jays 'hide' food in various locations throughout the year and must remember the location of these items (the cache) in times of food shortage. We plan to collect nestling, fledgling, and adult scrub-jays, and using a technique known as in vivo microdialysis, measure levels of steroid hormones circulating in the hippocampus while jays perform caching and retrieval behaviors. This technique will allow us to measure the effects of small hormone fluctuations in the brain on behavior. Our results will help to elucidate the mechanisms whereby hormones modulate the formation and retention of spatial memory.

Visit #28661 @Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains Reserve

Approved

Under Project # 25351 | Research

Estrogen synthesis brain and its functional role

research_scientist - University of California, Los Angeles

Reservation Members(s)

Group of 2 Other May 17, 2012 (1 days)
Michelle Rensel May 17, 2012 (1 days)

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