Comparative Cognition

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Our population is rapidly aging. As we age, our cognitive abilities, particularly the ability to remember important locations, decline. We know that all parts of the brain do not age at a constant rate, which results in some abilities showing earlier age-related degeneration compared to others. Animal models of aging permit us to examine the aging process under controlled conditions, allowing us to clearly differentiate between healthy aging and diseased aging such as Alzheimers disease. My research uses an avian model, which presents a unique opportunity to study the two brain hemispheres independently, to better understand cognitive aging. This model allows for the study of age-related cognitive decline, and the underlying brain changes, across the lifespan. My research program will be one of the first to use an avian model to help us understand how aging changes the brain and the ability to navigate.