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Research Interests: My laboratory focuses on understanding the role that cholinergic basal forebrain structures play in the development of learning and memory. Basal forebrain neurons provide the primary cholinergic projections to the neocortex and hippocampus, two structures associated with higher cognitive functions. During the developmental period, these projections influence the morphology and connections of neurons in their neocortical and hippocampal targets, and aid in establishing cortical networks that will subserve learning and memory functions in adulthood. Using a series of behavioral, anatomical and neurochemical approaches in mouse and rat, ultimately we hope to gain a better understanding of cholinergic mechanisms involved in normal cortical development and cognitive functions such as learning and memory. Furthermore, these studies may also shed light on mechanisms related to Down syndrome, Rett syndrome, and Alzheimer's Disease, disorders in which alterations in the developing cholinergic system has been documented.
Shown here are path lengths of a mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease during three navigation tasks (cued, spatial and reversal) which tests an animal's ability to navigate an environment. Longer path lengths denote poorer performance. Note that mice containing two copies of the altered gene (homozygotes) perform worse than mice containing one copy of the altered gene (heterozygote) and worse than non-transgenic controls. Berger-Sweeney et al. (1999) Molecular Brain Research 66:150 &endash; 162. |
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Recent Publications:> Berger-Sweeney, J., M. Libbey, J. Arters, M. Junagadhwalla, S. Richardson, and C. Hohmann. 1998. Neonatal monoaminergic lesions improve performance of a novel odor discrimination task in adult mice. Behavioral Neuroscience. 112:1318-1326. J. Arters, C.F. Hohmann, J. Mills, O. Olaghere and J. Berger-Sweeney. 1998. Sexually dimorphic response to neonatal basal forebrain lesions in mice: I. Behavior and neurochemistry. J Neurobiology. 37:582-594. Hohmann, C. F. and J. Berger-Sweeney. 1998. Sexually dimorphic response to neonatal basal forebrain lesions in mice: II. Cortical morphology. J Neurobiology. 37:595-606. Berger-Sweeney, J., D.L. McPhie, J.A., Arters, J. Greenan, M.L. Oster-Granite, and R.L. Neve. 1999. Impairment in spatial learning accompanied by neurodegeneration in mice transgenic for the carboxyl-terminus of the amyloid precursor protein. Molec. Brain Res. 66:150-162. Jones, D., J. Arters, J. Berger-Sweeney. 1999. The effects of carbon dioxide anesthesia on monoaminergic transmitter levels in mouse brain. Lab. Animal Sci. 49:316-318. |
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