Gonny Smit
As a Marketing Communication Specialist, I get to read, write, and learn a lot about behavioral neuroscience. I spend my days creating anything from videos and blog posts to website and leaflet content. Outside of the office, I love spending time with my horse, working out, and traveling.
The effects of parasitic infections on learning and memory in mice
Worm infections can cause cognitive problems. But it’s unclear if it affects learning, memory, or both.
Freeze! A recent study on PTSD and the immune system
It is pretty well-known that stress and anxiety have an effect on the immune system. This can be a real problem, especially in psychiatric disorders.
Exercise vs anabolic steroids: a rat study
A recent study shows that the use of anabolic steroids diminishes the positive effects of exercise in rats.
Knockout of Down syndrome gene in zebrafish leads to autistic-like behaviors
Knockout of Down syndrome gene in zebrafish leads to autistic-like behaviors: Though earlier knockout models in mice failed, researchers have developed a successful zebrafish model.
Putative neurorestorative drug for Parkinson’s disease tested in zebrafish
About zebrafish and their important role in finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
Strain differences in zebrafish behavior and physiology
A zebrafish is not just a zebrafish. Strain differences in zebrafish behavior and physiology.
Why it doesn’t seem fair to prefer male mice in behavioral studies
Is it justified to use male mice only in behavioral studies, as many diseases affect men and women differently? This might be the most important argument to favor including female mice in certain studies.
IR backlight in rodent behavioral testing
How do mice act in complete darkness? Ann-Kristina Fritz and her colleagues ordered a large, round open field with IR backlight, custom made by Noldus, to investigate.
Brain & behavior: data integration in horse studies
EEG recordings – they produce useful data, but are not always easy to obtain in animal studies. You can’t really ask a horse to sit still, so these researchers invented a promising new system for EEG recording.
Behavioral tests to select police horses
The personality of police horses influences how well they do in their ‘job’. That’s why personality tests are important for both animal and human welfare and safety.