Award details

Adaptive specialisation of memory

ReferenceS04769
Principal Investigator / Supervisor Professor Susan Healy
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution Newcastle University
DepartmentSch of Biology
Funding typeResearch
Value (£) 97,163
StatusCompleted
TypeResearch Grant
Start date 30/01/1996
End date 29/01/1999
Duration36 months

Abstract

The retrieval of stored food by some species of passerine birds depends on memory for the storage sites. These memories are processed by the hippocampus which, in food-storing species is larger, relative to the size of the rest of the telencephalon, than it is in closely related non-storing species. But it is not yet clear what cognitive advantage is gained by the food storer by the possession of an enlarged hippocampus. Using new operant techniques, closely related food-storing and non-storing tit species will be tested on four key aspects of food-storing memory. These are memory for a large number of locations, accurate encoding of locations after brief experience, memory specifically for locations, and high levels of interference.

Summary

unavailable
Committee Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research TopicsX – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research PriorityX – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative X - not in an Initiative
Funding SchemeX – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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