My research in the Maruska lab focuses on chemical communication during social interactions. Using behavioral, molecular, and physiological techniques I am investigating how socially-relevant chemosensory information is sent, received, and processed in the brain of A. burtoni. Chemical signaling is used in several fish species to convey important information such as sex, social status, and reproductive fitness. This information is often contained in the urine, which can be released passively or more actively in a context specific manner. While chemical communication has been studied in several fish species, few studies examine this important form of communication in both inter- and intra-sexual interactions in both sexes of a single species.
In order for a signal to benefit a receiver, the receiver must have the necessary mechanisms to detect relevant compounds. I am interested in how the olfactory receptor neurons in the olfactory epithelium are involved in detecting different socially-relevant compounds, and how mechanisms of detection may change with social and/or reproductive state. Further, how the brain processes socially-relevant olfactory signals to elicit appropriate behavioral responses is not well understood in fishes. My research involves examining how relevant brain regions may be involved in processing information from the social environment, especially chemosensory information, and how it may be integrated with other senses to elicit appropriate behavioral responses.
In order for a signal to benefit a receiver, the receiver must have the necessary mechanisms to detect relevant compounds. I am interested in how the olfactory receptor neurons in the olfactory epithelium are involved in detecting different socially-relevant compounds, and how mechanisms of detection may change with social and/or reproductive state. Further, how the brain processes socially-relevant olfactory signals to elicit appropriate behavioral responses is not well understood in fishes. My research involves examining how relevant brain regions may be involved in processing information from the social environment, especially chemosensory information, and how it may be integrated with other senses to elicit appropriate behavioral responses.