Biology
Queen's University-
People
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Faculty
- L.W. Aarssen
- S.E. Arnott
- W.G. Bendena
- P.T. Boag
- I. Chin-Sang
- A. Chippindale
- B.F. Cumming
- C.G. Eckert
- V.L. Friesen
- P. Grogan
- C.W. Hawryshyn
- P.V. Hodson
- K. Ko
- D.D. Lefebvre
- S.C. Lougheed
- P. Martin
- R.D. Montgomerie
- C.D. Moyes
- W. Nelson
- W. Newcomb
- W.C. Plaxton
- L.M. Ratcliffe
- S.M. Regan
- R.J. Robertson
- R.M. Robertson
- L. Seroude
- J.P. Smol
- W.A. Snedden
- B.L. Tufts
- V.K. Walker
- Y. Wang
- P.G. Young
- Emeritus and Retired Faculty
- Adjunct Faculty
- Cross-Appointed Faculty
- Staff
- Postdoctoral Fellows
- Graduate Students
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Faculty
R.M. Robertson - Professor
Research: We are interested in understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the natural behaviours of animals; particularly in how the details of neuronal circuits are determined by factors other than those of the computational task that has to be performed (e.g. evolutionary, environmental and ecological constraints). We focus on the control of ventilation, predator evasion and flight in locusts because these animals are adapted for exposure to variable and extreme environmental conditions (temperature and oxygen availability). We use electrophysiological and pharmacological approaches to investigate the operation and plasticity of motor circuits in the basic biology of locusts and fruit flies. Our studies also have clear implications for biomedical questions concerning cellular stressors and brain function.
»» Lab Website »« email: robertrm@queensu.ca »« telephone: 613-533-6533 ««
Some Recent Publications:
- Armstrong, G.A.B., López-Guerrero, J.J., Dawson-Scully, K.D., Peña, F. and Robertson, R.M. Inhibition of protein kinase G activity protects neonatal mouse respiratory network from hyperthermic and hypoxic stress. Brain Res. 1311:64-72 (2010).
- Gray, J.R., Blincow, E. and Robertson, R.M. A pair of motion-sensitive neurons in the locust encode approaches of a looming object. J. Comp. Physiol. 196:927-938 (2010).
- Rodgers, C.I., Armstrong, G.A.B. and Robertson, R.M. Coma in response to environmental stress in the locust: a model for cortical spreading depression. J. Insect Physiol. 56:980-990 (2010).
- Robertson, R.M., Björnfors, R. and Sillar, K.T. Long-lasting effects of chemical anoxia on spinal cord function in tadpoles. NeuroReport 21:943-947 (2010)
- Robertson, R.M. and Sillar, K.T. The NO/cGMP pathway tunes the thermosensitivity of swimming motor patterns in Xenopus laevis tadpoles. J. Neurosci. 29:13945-13951 (2009).
- Armstrong, G.A.B., Rodgers, C.I., Money, T.G.A. and Robertson, R.M. Suppression of spreading depression-like events in locusts by inhibition of the NO/cGMP/PKG pathway. J. Neurosci. 29:8225-8235 (2009).
- Sillar, K.T. and Robertson R.M. Thermal activation of escape swimming in post-hatching Xenopus laevis frog larvae. J. Exp. Biol. 212:2356-2364 (2009).
- Money, T.G.A., Rodgers, C.I., McGregor, S.M. and Robertson, R.M. Loss of potassium homeostasis underlies hyperthermic conduction failure in control and preconditioned locusts. J. Neurophysiol. 102:285-293 (2009).
- Rodgers, C.I., LaBrie, J.D. and Robertson, R.M. K+ homeostasis and central pattern generation in the metathoracic ganglion of the locust. J. Insect Physiol. 55:599-607 (2009).