Our lab studies the functional
neuroanatomy of
memory systems, primarily by assessing the effects of lesions in
specific brain regions on various learning and memory abilities. Our
general aim is to understand where, and under what conditions,
information processing changes specific neural circuits, ultimately
changing behaviour in response to specific types of sensory information.
NSERC
provides funding support for our studies on object-recognition memory,
and the infulence of contextual information on recognition
processes. We are currently examining the role of the hippocampal
formation in mediating these interactions. Related studies examine the role of the perirhinal
cortex and hippocampus in conditioned fear learning, place learning,
and social learning of taste preferences.
We receive funding from CIHR for our studies on the
mechanisms of cognitive impairment following global cerebral
ischemia. These studies aim to characterize neural pathology
throughout the brain at various time points following ischemia, and to
link specific aspects of the memory impairments with particular
features of the brain damage. We are also trying to determine
whether post ischemic seizures play a role in producing secondary brain
damage and memory impairments after ischemia.
