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"Neurogenetic Mechanisms Underlying Phenotypic Variation in the Songbird Brain and Behavior"

Date:
Location:
THM 116
Speaker(s) / Presenter(s):
Dr. Farrah Madison | Faculty Host: Dr. Jessica Santollo

Dr. Farrah Madison 

Bio:
Dr. Farrah N. Madison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she leads the Madison Avian Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Lab. She earned her Ph.D. in Poultry Science from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, following an M.S. and B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She completed postdoctoral fellowships at Hope College and Johns Hopkins University, where she expanded her expertise in neuroendocrinology and behavioral neuroscience. Dr. Madison’s research explores the neurobiological, genetic, and endocrine mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation in songbirds, particularly focusing on how the endocrine system responds to social and environmental changes. Her work has provided insight into sex, strain, and morph-specific differences in brain plasticity, stress responses, and social behavior, utilizing avian models such as canaries, zebra finches, and Gouldian finches. By integrating molecular, neural, and behavioral approaches, her research seeks to advance our understanding of how hormones and genetic factors shape communication and social behaviors.

Abstract:
Social behaviors, including parental care, territoriality, and mating, vary widely across species, yet the genetic and neurobiological mechanisms regulating these behaviors are often conserved. While numerous studies have investigated gene-behavior associations, few have established direct functional links between genetic variation and individual behavioral differences. Research in my lab takes a comparative approach by leveraging naturally occurring phenotypic variation in songbirds, such as sex and color morphs, to uncover key differences in neurocircuitry, gene expression, and endocrine function that shape complex social behaviors. By integrating behavioral observations with molecular and neuroendocrine techniques, we aim to identify how specific genetic and hormonal factors influence individual differences in complex social behaviors. This work advances our understanding of the mechanisms driving behavioral diversity in avian models and provides broader insights into the conserved genetic pathways underlying social behavior across species.

Files:
Madison Flyer.pdf (819.1 KB)