Department of Zoology

 

Neurobiology

Brian McCabe

University Lecturer

Email: bjm1@cam.ac.uk

Tel.: +44 (0)1223 741810

 

The neural mechanisms of learning and memory, particularly those involved in imprinting. Imprinting is a process whereby a young animal learns the characteristics of an object (usually a parent) and then restricts its social preferences to that object. Imprinting occurs in many species and is conveniently studied in the domestic chick. Gabriel Horn, Patrick Bateson and I have found that a restricted region in the forebrain of the chick, now named the IMM, is the site of a learning-specific increase in ribonucleic acid synthesis following imprinting. Subsequently, I have studied the role of the IMM in learning and memory with the aim of gaining insight into general principles underlying these processes in vertebrates. This research has necessarily been multi-disciplinary, involving the use of light and electron microscopy, receptor binding, molecular biology, electrophysiology, immunocytochemistry and in-situ hybridisation, as well as behavioural techniques. Collaborators include Prof. Sir Gabriel Horn, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge; Dr. Tony Jackson, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge; Drs. Keith Kendrick and Ali Nicol, The Babraham Institute, Babraham, Cambridge; Prof. Malcolm Brown, University of Bristol; Dr. Richard Talbot, the Roslin Institute, Midlothian; Prof. Revaz Solomonia, Georgian Academy of Sciences, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia. I currently supervise a PhD student, Stephen Town, who also works on imprinting. Our work is supported by the Royal Society, the Newton Trust and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Selected publications

  • McCabe BJ , Kendrick KM, Horn G (2001) Gamma-aminobutyric acid, taurine and learning: release of amino acids from slices of chick brain following filial imprinting. Neuroscience,105:317-324
  • Meredith RM, McCabe BJ, Kendrick KM, Horn G (2004) Amino acid neurotransmitter release and learning: a study of visual imprinting. Neuroscience,126:249-256
  • Solomonia RO, Morgan K, Kotorashvili A, McCabe BJ, Jackson AP, Horn G (2003) Analysis of differential gene expression supports a role for amyloid precursor protein and a protein kinase C substrate (MARCKS) in long-term memory. Eur J Neurosci,17:1073-1081
  • Suge R, McCabe BJ (2004) Early stages of memory formation in filial imprinting: Fos-like immunoreactivity and behavior in the domestic chick. Neuroscience,123:847-856
  • Solomonia RO, Kotorashvili A, Kiguradze T, McCabe BJ, Horn G (2005) Ca2+/calmodulin protein kinase II and memory: learning-related changes in a localized region of the domestic chick brain. J Physiol ( London),569:643-653
  • McCabe BJ , Kendrick KM, Horn G (2001) Association between GABA and taurine release contingent upon learning. Behavioural Pharmacology,12:S64
  • Bolhuis JJ, McCabe BJ, Horn G, Kendrick K (2003) Serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA) and learning: studies of visual imprinting. Act Neurobiol Exper,63:S54
  • Suge R, Kato H, McCabe BJ (2004) Time-course of c-fos expression in the IMHV after imprinting in the domestic chick. FENS Congress, Lisbon, July 2004
  • Jackson C, McCabe BJ, Horn G (2005) The relationship between predispositions and imprinting in the domestic chick (Gallus gallus domesticus). Proceedings, 29th International Ethology Conference, Budapest
  • Katugampola N, Pinfield ECR, Reeve RJ, Ridgway M, McCabe BJ (2005) Imprinting: modification by novel stimuli. British Neurosci Assoc Abstr,18:P104
  • Shurell EM, McCabe BJ, Horn G (2006) Imprinting and AMPA receptor binding in a memory system of the chick brain. FENS Forum Abstracts,3:325
  • McCabe BJ , Jackson C, Nicol AU, Grout AS, Brown MW, Horn G (2007) Dynamics of a memory trace: effects of sleep on consolidation. Proceedings, 8th International Congress of Neuroethology
  • McCabe BJ , Kendrick KM, Horn G (2001) Gamma-aminobutyric acid, taurine and learning: release of amino acids from slices of chick brain following filial imprinting. Neuroscience,105:317-324
  • Meredith RM, McCabe BJ, Kendrick KM, Horn G (2004) Amino acid neurotransmitter release and learning: a study of visual imprinting. Neuroscience,126:249-256
  • Solomonia RO, Morgan K, Kotorashvili A, McCabe BJ, Jackson AP, Horn G (2003) Analysis of differential gene expression supports a role for amyloid precursor protein and a protein kinase C substrate (MARCKS) in long-term memory. Eur J Neurosci,17:1073-1081
  • Suge R, McCabe BJ (2004) Early stages of memory formation in filial imprinting: Fos-like immunoreactivity and behavior in the domestic chick. Neuroscience,123:847-856
  • Solomonia RO, Kotorashvili A, Kiguradze T, McCabe BJ, Horn G (2005) Ca2+/calmodulin protein kinase II and memory: learning-related changes in a localized region of the domestic chick brain. J Physiol ( London),569:643-653
  • McCabe BJ , Kendrick KM, Horn G (2001) Association between GABA and taurine release contingent upon learning. Behavioural Pharmacology,12:S64
  • Bolhuis JJ, McCabe BJ, Horn G, Kendrick K (2003) Serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA) and learning: studies of visual imprinting. Act Neurobiol Exper,63:S54
  • Suge R, Kato H, McCabe BJ (2004) Time-course of c-fos expression in the IMHV after imprinting in the domestic chick. FENS Congress, Lisbon, July 2004
  • Jackson C, McCabe BJ, Horn G (2005) The relationship between predispositions and imprinting in the domestic chick (Gallus gallus domesticus). Proceedings, 29th International Ethology Conference, Budapest
  • Katugampola N, Pinfield ECR, Reeve RJ, Ridgway M, McCabe BJ (2005) Imprinting: modification by novel stimuli. British Neurosci Assoc Abstr,18:P104
  • Shurell EM, McCabe BJ, Horn G (2006) Imprinting and AMPA receptor binding in a memory system of the chick brain. FENS Forum Abstracts,3:325
  • McCabe BJ , Jackson C, Nicol AU, Grout AS, Brown MW, Horn G (2007) Dynamics of a memory trace: effects of sleep on consolidation. Proceedings, 8th International Congress of Neuroethology
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