Lainy Day

Currently: Assistant Professor, University of Mississippi

Website: http://olemiss.edu/depts/biology/people/faculty/day/index.php

Formerly: Post Doctoral Researcher, Department of Physiological Science and Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology,
Brain Research Institute, UCLA

Principle Research Interests:
My research is in the domain of neuroethology, the study of neural mechanisms underlying natural behaviors. My work has centered on understanding the evolution of parts of the brain that control spatial and motor learning. I am currently examining the neural correlates of complex mating displays in birds and the neural and hormonal basis that may govern differences in displays with emphasis on the cerebellum - a brain region involved in motor learning. I am also examining the role of steroid hormones in normal and lesion induced neural plasticity of the cerebellum and the role these hormones play in behaviors controlled the cerebellum.

E-mail:  lainyday@ucla.edu, lainyday@olemiss.edu

Education:

1988 – 1992         BA, Evolutionary Psychology.
New College of Florida, Sarasota, FL, USA

1992 – 1994        MA, Psychology: Cognition and Perception
University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA

 1994 - 1999        PhD., Psychology: Behavioral Neuroscience
University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA

 1999 – 2004        Postdoctoral Fellow
                             Dept. Psychology and Dept. of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology
                             University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

 2004 -   2006       Postdoctoral Fellow
                             Dept. of Physiological Science
                             University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Awards and Fellowships:
1988 – 1992         New College Foundation Scholarship
1991                     New College Travel Grant
1995                     University of Texas Research Institute Grant with Walter Wilczynski
1996                     National Institute of Mental Health Predoctoral Training Grant
1996 - 1999          University of Texas Tuition Fellowship
1997 - 1999          Predoctoral National Research Service Award, National Institutes of Health
1999 - 2002          Postdoctoral National Research Service Award, National Institutes of Health

Research Experience

            My work centers on the evolution and neural substrates of spatial cognition and other forms of complex learning in a variety of vertebrate models. 

                             Aug 1990 -           Ecological and Cultural Determinants of Navigational Abilities
May 1992             Advisor:  David Smillie, New College of Florida
Aug 1992-            Evolution of Primate Cerebral Laterality for Spatial Skills and Communication
June 1994             Advisor:       Peter MacNeilage, University of Texas, Austin
July 1994 -            Role of the Hippocampus in Stereotypical Behavior in Rats
Dec 1998              Advisor:         Timothy Schallert, University of Texas, Austin
Oct 1994 -            Evolution of the Hippocampus: Role of the Cortex in Lizards
May 1999             Advisors:       David Crews & Walter Wilczynski, University of Texas, Austin
Jan 2000–             Experiential and Developmental Effects on Hippocampal Size in Cowbirds
                             Advisors:  Stephen Rothstein & Deborah Olster, University of California,
                             Santa Barbara (Minor Collaborative Project).
July 1999–            Behavior, Hormone, and Brain Adaptations for Bower Complexity in Bowerbirds
Feb 2004              Advisors:  John Endler & Deborah Olster, University of California, Santa Barbara
March 2004-        Hormonal and Neural Regulation of an Acrobatic Courtship Display in Manakins
                             Advisor: Barney Schlinger, University of California, Los Angeles

Teaching Experience

1992 – 1997         Teaching Assistant
Biopsychology, Cognition, Perception, and Psycholinguistics
Statistics and Experimental Design, Cognition Seminar
Motivation, Human Evolution, Psychology of Sex
Advanced Experimental Design

1993 - 1998         Undergraduate Research Courses: Advised over 40 undergraduates individually or in small groups at the University of Texas, Austin.  Students were taught basic laboratory skills in comparative neuroethology and animal husbandry so that they could carry out independent research projects.

Spring 1998          Honors Thesis Advisor: The Effects of Anticholinergics in Frogs, Staci Bilbo now a Ph.D. candidate at Johns Hopkins, University of Texas, Austin

Spring 1998          Assistant Instructor: Biopsychology, University of Texas, Austin
 
Oct 2000,’01,’03 Guest Lecturer: Tropical Australian Herpetology, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, AUS

 Dec 2000,’01       Guest Lecturer: Field Biology and Animal Adaptation, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, AUS

Society Memberships

Animal Behavior Society
Human Behavior and Evolution Society
J. B. Johnston Club - Comparative Neuroanatomy Society
Society for Neuroscience

Reviewer

Brain Research
Brain, Behavior and Evolution

Publications

Reviewed Manuscripts

Day, L. B. & Schallert, T. 1996.  Anticholinergic effects on place learning in the Morris Water Task: Spatial mapping deficit or inability to inhibit nonplace strategies.  Behavioral Neuroscience, 110(5), 998-1005.

Day, L. B. & MacNeilage, P. F. 1996.  Limb preference and cerebral hemispheric specializations.  Journal of Comparative Psychology, 110(1), 88-96.

Day, L. B., Weisend, M., Sutherland, R. J. & Schallert, T. 1999. The hippocampus is not necessary for a place response but may be necessary for pliancy.  Behavioral Neuroscience, 133(5), 914-924.

Day, L. B., Crews, D., & Wilczynski, W. 1999. Spatial and reversal learning in congeneric lizards with different foraging strategies.  Animal Behaviour, 57, 395-407.

Day, L. B., Crews, D. & Wilczynski, W. 1999. Relative medial and dorsal cortex volume in relation to foraging strategy in congeneric lizards. Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 54, 314-322.

Bilbo, S., Day, L. B. & Wilczynski, W. 2000. The effects of anticholinergics on a visual and hidden platform analog of the Morris water task in frogs.  Physiology and Behavior, 69(3), 351-357.

Day, L. B., Crews, D. & Wilczynski, W. 2001.  Effects of medial and dorsal cortex lesions on spatial memory in lizards. Behavioural Brain Research, 118 (1), 27-42.

Day, L. B. 2003. The importance of hippocampal-dependent non-spatial tasks in analyses of homology and homoplasy. Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 62, 96-107.

Day, L. B., N. Ismail, & W. Wilczynski 2003. Use of position and feature cues in discrimination learning by the lizard Cnemidophorus inornatus. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 117, 440-448..

Edited Volume

Powers, A. S and Day, L. B. 2003. Perspectives on the Evolution of Cognition. Karger Symposium Special Issue.  Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 62.

Submission Ready (Drafts Available)

Day, L.B.  The effects of ecology on spatial abilities: Cognitive adaptation exemplified by Aboriginal Australians.

Day, L.B., Wade, J., Wilczynski, W., Crews, D.  Sex steroids influence the size of a non-sexually dimorphic cortical learning area in reptiles.

Presentations

Poster Presentations

1995          Day, L. B., Crews, D., & Wilczynski, W.  Hemispheric lateralization of the lateral cortex in lizards, Cnemidophorus inornatus and C. uniparens. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, October.  Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 21 (1), 432.

1996          Schallert, T., Day, L. B., Weisend, M., & Sutherland, R. J.  Spatial learning by hippocampal rats in the Morris Water Task.  Society for Neuroscience, Washington, D.C., October.  Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 22(1), 678.

1996          Day, L. B., Wilczynski, W., Crews, D.  Foraging strategy and spatial memory in lizards. Society for Neuroscience, Washington, D.C., October.  Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 22(1), 448.

1997          Day, L. B., Crews, D. & Wilczynski, W.  Hippocampal cortex volume is related to foraging strategy and behavioral flexibility but not spatial memory in lizards. Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, October.  Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 23(2), 2134.

1998          Day, L. B., Kapila, R.,  Johnson, A., Crews, D. & Wilczynski, W. Foraging ecology predicts medial and dorsal cortex volume and behavior in lizards. International Congress of Neuroethology, San Diego, August.

1998          Day, L. B., Crews, D. & Wilczynski, W.  Medial and dorsal cortex function in non-spatial solutions to a spatial maze in lizards. Society for Neuroscience, Los Angeles, November.  Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 24(2) 1258.

2003          Day, L. B., Westcott, D., Ewen, J., Wingfield, J., Endler, J., Olster, D. H. Neural and hormonal correlates of display in bowerbirds, Ptilonorhynchidae.  Society for Neuroscience, Orlando, November. Program No. 877.1, Abstract viewer/itinerary planner CD-ROM.

2004          Day, L. B., D. H. Olster. Androgen receptor distribution and seasonal brain volume changes in great bowerbirds. Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, November. Program No. 200.7 Abstract viewer/itinerary planner CD-ROM.

Symposium Organizer

2002          Karger Symposium: Evolutionary Perspectives in Cognition. Orlando, November.  With Alice S. Powers.

Invited Symposium Speaker

2002          Evolution of neural systems for spatial cognition: foraging ecology in lizards and bower complexity in bowerbirds.  J. B. Johnston Society Karger Symposium: Evolutionary Perspectives in Cognition. Orlando, November.

Invited Talks

1999          Lizards in space: Foraging ecology and the function of cortical brain regions.  Department of Zoology and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.

2001          A birds eye view of color space. Department of Zoology and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.

2003          Behavior, Brain, and Evolution in Bowerbirds. Neuroendocrine and Behavior Group, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.

Conference Speaker

1992          The effects of eco-cultural variables on spatial orientation.  Carolinas Psychology Conference, Raleigh, NC, June.

2004                    The effects of ecology on path integration abilities: A cognitive adaptation exemplified by Aboriginal Australians.  Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Tucson, AZ, June.

Seminar Speaker

1995          Structural and functional homologies between the lizard medial cortex and the avian and mammalian hippocampus.  Reproductive Biology Seminar, Austin, TX, March.

1995          Fluid intelligence in the Morris Water Maze displayed by atropine treated rats.  Behavioral Neuroscience Seminar, Austin, TX, September.

1996          Lizard cognition and other obscene thoughts: behavioral correlates of medial cortex function and foraging strategies in lizards.  Physiology and Behavior Seminar, Austin, TX, September.

1997          Hippocampal discourse without neocortical dialogue.  Behavioral Neuroscience Seminar, Austin, TX, January.

1997          The effects of ecology on path integration abilities: A cognitive adaptation exemplified by Aboriginal Australians.  Behavioral Neuroscience Seminar, Austin, TX, September.

1998          Medial and dorsal cortex function and foraging strategy in congeneric lizard species  .  Reproductive Biology Seminar, Austin, TX, October.

1999          Medial and dorsal cortex function and foraging strategies in lizards.  Neuroscience and Behavior Seminar, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, April.