Research Interests
Our laboratory focuses on the impact of social and environmental stressors on molecular, neural and endocrine responses to influence adaptive behavior and activities like learning, coping, developing social rank relationships, biological rhythms, reproduction, and social interaction. Of special interest are how and why individuals differ, and how responses are characterized temporally. The investigations include the connection between molecular, neural and endocrine responses and variability in the magnitude and way in which individuals respond to and cope with stress behaviorally. We have recently developed a new model that includes aggression, learned escape and conditioned submission. We are interested in elucidating the mechanisms by which experience modulates the responsiveness of neural and hormonal stress responses. We think it is important to relate molecular genetics, physiology and anatomy to behavior, ecology and evolution.
Selected Recent Publications
Carpenter RE and CH Summers 2009 Learning strategies during fear conditioning
Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 91: 415-423
Carpenter RE, WJ Korzan, C Bockholt, MJ Watt, GL Forster, KJ Renner and CH Summers
2009 Corticotropin releasing factor influences aggression and monoamines:
Modulation of attacks and retreats. Neuroscience 158: 412-425
Ling TJ, GL Forster, MJ Watt, WJ Korzan, KJ Renner and CH Summers 2009 Social status
differentiates rapid neuroendocrine responses to restraint stress.
Physiol & Behav 96: 218-232
Lukkes JL, CH Summers, JL Scholl, KJ Renner and GL Forster 2009 Early life social
isolation alters corticotropin-releasing factor responses in adult rats
Neuroscience 158: 845-855
Shaw JC, WJ Korzan, RE Carpenter, AM Kuris, KD Lafferty, CH Summers, Ø Øverli 2009
Parasite manipulation of brain monoamines in California killifish (Fundulus parvipinnis)
by the trematode Euhaplorchis californiensis. Proc R Soc B 276: 1137-1146
A complete listing of Dr. Summers' publications
Pubmed search of Dr. Summers' publications
mailing address:
Cliff H. Summers
Department of Biology
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD 57069
E-mail Dr. Summers
Biology of Reproduction
Endocrinology
Neurobiology
Advanced Seminars
Behavioral Neuroscience