Research in Professor Tierney's
laboratory focuses on understanding how relatively simple nervous
systems produce behavior, and how these systems can be modulated to
generate adaptive changes in behavior. A current project involves the
study of neural circuits that control rhythmic movements in crayfish and
other crustaceans. These neural circuits have been extensively
investigated and are important model systems for understanding how
rhythmic movements (e.g., walking, swimming, scratching) in general are
produced. Studies in progress include 1) immunocytochemical experiments
to determine if compounds such as dopamine, serotonin and several
neuropeptides are present in crayfish neural circuits; 2)
electrophysiological studies to determine how these compounds modulate
the activity of individual circuit neurons; 3) comparative studies of
different crayfish species to investigate how neural circuit structure
and function may have altered as species and genera evolve; 4) recording
neural activity in freely moving crayfish such that the activity of the
nervous system can be correlated with the animal's behavior (with Dr.
Weldon of Hamilton College).
Professor Tierney received her undergraduate training at Cornell
University and her Ph.D. at the University of Toronto. She conducted
postdoctoral research at the Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole,
and at Cornell University before coming to Colgate in 1993. She teaches
both neuroscience and psychology courses at Colgate, including
Introduction to Brain and Behavior, Fundamentals of Neurophysiology, and
Psychopathology. Dr. Tierney has published in The Journal of
Neurophysiology, Behavioural Processes, Animal Behavior,
The Canadian Journal of Zoology, and The Journal of Chemical
Ecology.
|
