Circadian and telemetry equipment for behavioural assessment of eusocial mammals

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My research investigates how social interactions control structural and functional changes in the adult mammalian brain, a phenomenon called adult neural plasticity. To do this, I study naked mole-rats, which exhibit the strictest reproductive and social hierarchies among mammals. These animals live in large social colonies where reproduction is limited to a single female and 1-3 males; these breeders are socially dominant over all other animals, called subordinates. I have demonstrated that a transition in social status from subordinate to dominant triggers changes in morphology and protein expression in the naked mole-rat brain. The proposed research will extend on these findings by evaluating how social interactions affect the 24 hour rhythms (called circadian rhythms; e.g., sleep-wake cycle) of these uniquely social animals. Because social interactions can influence circadian rhythms in other species and, conversely, circadian rhythms regulate behaviour and physiology, it is critical to understand how circadian rhythms influence socially-induced brain plasticity. The circadian and telemetry equipment, in conjunction with cabinets for precise control of light and temperature, will allow me to monitor the activity and body temperature rhythms of these animals across various social, light, and temperature manipulations. Ultimately, this work will reveal how strict social hierarchies control circadian rhythms in mammals and, in turn, how circadian rhythms may be involved in determining how social status changes the brain. This research will enrich my field of Social Neuroscience and the research environment in Canada by simultaneously pursuing ground breaking work on social control of behavioural and neural plasticity and providing a unique training environment for highly qualified personnel, ultimately raising the profile of Canada as a leading center for neuroscience research.