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Current
Faculty
Andrew,
Alan T.
(Microbiology/Immunology)
Ayebo, Amadu D.
(Microbiology)
Bharathan, Narayanaswamy
(Molecular Virology)
Bharathan, Seema
(Microbiology)
Bi, Shundong
(Comparative/Human Anatomy)
Brenneman, William
M.
(Zoology)
Browe, Andrew C.
(Physiology)
Butler, W. Barkley
(Cell Molecular)
Ciskowski, Gary
J.
(Microbiology)
Gendron, Robert
P.
(Ecology)
Hinrichsen,
Robert D.
(Cell Molecular)
Irani, Vida
(Microbiology)
Jack, Martha J.
(General Biology)
Larkin, Jeffery
(Ecology)
Lord, Thomas R.
(Biology Education)
Luciano, Carl
S.
(Virology)
Nealen, Paul M.
(Neurophysiology)
Newell, Sandra
J.
(Plant Ecology)
Peard, Terry L.
(Biology Education)
Peterson, Russell
L.
(Developmental)
Pistole, David
H.
(Physiology)
Simmons, Thomas
W.
(Environmental Health)
Winstead, Ray
L.
(Biostatistics/Ornithology)
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Dr.
Paul M. Nealen
Assistant
Professor
325 Weyandt Hall
(724) 357-1325
pnealen@iup.edu
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Interests
Research
in my laboratory focuses upon the neurobiology and behavior of vocal communication
in passerine (= "song") birds. As a group, songbirds exhibit
a remarkably diverse set of behaviors for the learning, production, perception,
and behavioral use of vocal communication signals. They share with humans
the distinction of being one of the very few vertebrate groups to learn
their adult vocalizations via auditory experience early in life.
Songbirds also provide a powerful model for studying the neural bases
for vertebrate vocal learning and communication in general. My research
employs physiological, behavioral, and anatomical methods to examine the
relationship between the design and function of the song neural system
and the vocal behaviors that it subserves.
Our research focuses upon three specific questions:
- how are complex vocal repertoires represented within the auditory and
motor systems of the songbird brain?
- how do the left and right halves of the songbird brain coordinate their
actions during the production of vocalizations?
- do species possessing song repertoires that are vastly different in
size or complexity share similar neural mechanism for vocal communication?
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