Education
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 B.A. Psychology, State University of New York, Binghamton, 6/1975
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Ph.D. Experimental Psychology with Zoology minor, Indiana University, Bloomington, 1/1980
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Postdoctoral Training
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Assistant Research Scientist, UCLA, 1982-1986
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Postdoctoral Scholar, UCLA, 1980-1982
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Description of Research
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Summary Statement of Research Interests
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Professor Bottjer's studies of young songbirds have revealed much about basic mechanisms of neural development, learning and memory, and brain-behavior relationships. Using the zebra finch as a model organism, Bottjer has made key discoveries about changes in the neural substrate for learned vocal behavior that occur during early development. Her work has helped to elucidate how the brain controls and produces behaviors (such as learned vocal utterances in birds) and how early experience affects the development of neural networks. The research is an important part of understanding speech acquisition in children, normal brain function, and the brain's response to injury, disease and aging. Among other projects, Professor Bottjer is currently investigating the contribution of specific functional circuits to distinct aspects of vocal learning, the role of auditory experience in sculpting neural circuits for vocal learning during sensitive periods of development, the influence of sensory experience in regulating axon arbor morphology and specificity of topographic mapping in neural networks, and synaptic plasticity in vocal-control circuitry using whole-cell recordings in brain-slice preparations.
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Publications
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Journal Article
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Bottjer, S. W.
(2005).
Silent synapses in a thalamo-cortical circuit necessary for song learning in zebra finches. Journal of Neurophysiology/Not Available.
Vol. 94, pp. 3698-7307.
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DeWulf, V., Bottjer, S. W.
(2005).
Neurogenesis within the juvenile zebra finch telencephalic ventricular zone: a map of proliferative activity. Journal of Comparative Neurology/Wiley.
Vol. 481, pp. 70-83.
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Bottjer, S. W.
(2005).
Timing and prediction the code from basal ganglia to thalamus. Neuron/Cell Press.
Vol. 46, pp. 4-7..
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Zevin, J. D., Seidenberg, M. S., Bottjer, S. W.
(2004).
Limits on reacquisition of song in adult zebra finches exposed to white noise. Journal of Neuroscience.
Vol. 24, pp. 5849-5862.
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Bottjer, S. W.
(2004).
Developmental regulation of basal ganglia circuitry during the sensitive period for vocal learning in songbirds. Annals NY Academy of Sciences.
Vol. 1016, pp. 395-415.
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Other
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Bottjer, S. W. Iyengar S, Bottjer SW. The role of auditory experience in the formation of neural circuits underlying vocal learning in zebra finches. J Neurosci. 2002 Feb 1;22(3):946-58.
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Bottjer, S. W. Troyer TW, Bottjer SW. Birdsong: models and mechanisms. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2001 Dec;11(6):721-6.
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Bottjer, S. W. Bottjer SW. Neural strategies for learning during sensitive periods of development. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2002 Dec;188(11-12):917-28.
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Bottjer, S. W. DeWulf V, Bottjer SW. Age and sex differences in mitotic activity within the zebra finch telencephalon. J Neurosci. 2002 May 15;22(10):4080-94.
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Honors and Awards
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Director of "Neural Systems & Behavior" course, MBL, 2004-2007
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Recipient of National or International Prize in Discipline, Plenary Speaker, International Congress of Neuroethology, 1996
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C. and F. Demuth Swiss Medical Research Foundation International Award for Young Investigators in the Neurosciences, 1987
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Recipient of National or International Prize in Discipline, McKnight Scholar Award for Excellence in Neuroscience Research, 1985
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National Research Service Award, Postdoctoral Fellowship, Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles (Mental Health Training Program), 1980-1982
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Service to the University
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Administrative Appointments
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Neurobiology Section Head, 08/16/2006-08/15/2009
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