My research interests are in the area of behavioral neuroendocrinology. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how environmental factors, hormones, and the brain interact to regulate reproductive behaviors.
Song plays an important role in male starling courtship.
During the breeding season male starlings respond to females by flying to nest locations and vigorously singing. The increase in song in the presence of a female is observed until a male has paired with a female, and can be considered a reflection of male sexual arousal. I am currently investigating how brain areas known to regulate male sexual arousal affect male song and other courtship behaviors, and how brain areas participating in sexual arousal interact with brain areas known in songbirds to be devoted to singing behavior. Hormones and Behavior. The effects of lesions to the caudolateral neostriatum on sun compass based spatial learning in homing pigeons.