Laboratory of Comparative & Functional Neuroanatomy
Drs. Steven E. Brauth and William S. Hall, Lab Directors
Wenru Liang, Faculty Research Assistant
Collaborations at the University of MD with:
Todd F. Roberts, Ye-Zhong Tang, UMCP Biology Department
Prof. Elizabeth Quinlan,
Collaborations with other investigators:
Dr. Sarah E. Durand, Queens College and Dr. James Heaton,
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| Dr. Steven E. Brauth is a comparative neuroanatomist interested in the evolution and neurobiology of vocal learning. His current interests are focused on the organization and functions of the auditory and vocal control systems in psittacine birds. | Dr. William S. Hall is a neuroscientist and developmental psychologist whose interests include development of vocal learning, auditory paths in psittacine birds, child language learning and pregrammatical speech. |
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Wenru Liang is a faculty research associate. Her interests lie in the use of protein immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization histochemistry as tools for studying functional brain anatomy. |
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| Ms. Yodit Beru is a student in a Biology major and student in the ETEP program. She is currently working on gene expression studies in the auditory system. | Mr. Omair Janjua is a Biology student interested in social factors influencing vocal learning in budgerigars. |
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| Ms. Susan Stern is a Psychology Honors student interested in the orgnization of the budgerigar auditory system. | Mr. John Childres is a Biology premed student interested in using in situ hybridization methods to study gene expression related to learning. |
Dr. Ye-Zhong Tang is a postdoctoral associated in the laboratory of Professor Catherine Carr in the Biology department at the University of Maryland. Dr. Tang has collaborated with us on studies in which in situ hybridization is used to map genomic responses to auditory stimulation.
Dr. Todd F. Roberts is a postdoctoral associate working with Professor Mooney in the Neurobiology program at Duke University. Dr. Roberts worked as a graduate student in the laboratory and received his degree under the mentorship of Drs. Brauth and Hall. His interests lie in the nature of molecular mechanisms underlying vocal learning and the organization of auditory-vocal interfaces.
Dr. Elizabeth Quinlan is a molecular biologist in the Biology Department at the University of Maryland. Professor Quinlan is interested in the molecular biology of the development of the visual cortex in mammals as well as the effect of experiential learning on glutamate receptor subunit composition. The Quinlan lab has collaborated with us on studies involving the role of the immediate early gene zenk on processing complex auditory stimuli in budgerigars.
Dr. Sarah Durand is a neuroethologist and former postdoctoral fellow of Dr. Brauth's lab. Dr. Durand has collaborated with us on studies of neurotransmitter systems in the budgerigar. Her interests include the organization of ascending auditory thalamo- telencephalic pathways in birds as well as role of the enkephalins and other neuropeptides in these pathways.
Dr. James T. Heaton is a neuroscientist and former graduate student now working in the Harvard Medical School Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. His interests include mechanisms of vocal production, development of prosthetic devices for patients suffering laryngeal damage and comparative work on vocal learning.
Former Undergraduate Advisees
Departmental Honors Students:
ETEP (Enhanced Training Opportunities for
Ethnic Minorities in Psychology) Students:
