Research

Neural mechanisms of social recognition and memory

Although much is known about the neural mechanisms of some kinds of memory (trained tasks, spatial memory), relatively little is known about social memory, despite its obvious importance. Social learning often takes place very quickly, yet it is also long-lasting. To what extent are the neural mechanisms of this memory similar to or different from those underlying other forms of memory?

We started investigating social memory using lesion techniques to find the regions of the brain involved in the basic discrimination processes. We found an interesting double dissociation: lesions in the medial amygdala eliminated sex discrimination, but these lesions did not affect discrimination of individual odors. In contrast, lesions of the entorhinal cortex showed the opposite pattern: no effect on discrimination of male versus female odors, but a big effect on discrimination of individual odors.

We are currently investigating the functional neuroanatomy of memory for individuals in aggressive and sexual contexts. In addition, we are investigating the neural substrates underlying kin recognition. We are employing a variety of techniques, including lesions, micro-injections of drugs, and use of immediate early genes (e.g., c-Fos, egr-1) as markers of cell activity during memory formation and the recognition process.

Research Topics Individual Recognition Kin Recognition Neural Mechanisms Olfaction and Pheromones Scent Marking Social Stress