We are interested in the interrelation of hormones, brain, and behavior. We study a variety

of avian species that exhibit high degrees of neuroplasticity in response to hormone

treatment. These studies are designed to investigate both how hormones act in the brain

to affect the learning and activation of behavior and how behavioral and other stimuli are

processed by the brain to influence reproductive endocrine activity and the timing of

seasonal reproduction. Current research activities include: (1) studies addressing how the

neuroendocrine system integrates cues that regulate seasonal reproduction including

photoperiod and supplementary factors that augment the photo-induction of gonadal

growth, such as the perception of conspecific vocalizations; (2) investigations of seasonal

brain changes and neural sex differences mediating bird song learning and production; (3)

studies of the interaction between dopamine and the steroid metabolizing enzyme, aromatase, in relation to the activation of male reproduction behavior in quail.

Students in the laboratory have the opportunity to learn methods and techniques relevant

to behavioral neuroendocrinology such as receptor autoradiography, immunohistochemistry, neural tract tracing, small animal surgery, hormone administration and measurement techniques, and behavioral testing methods.

Biopsychology, neuroendocrine and neurochemical basis of birdsong learning and production, behavioral neuroendocrinology, neuroethology, engineers without borders, center for water and health

Ball, G.F. (1994). Neurochemical specializations associated with vocal learning and production in songbirds and budgerigars. Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 44,

234-246.

Bernard, D.J., & G.F. Ball (1995). Two histological markers reveal a similar photoperiodic difference in the volume of the high vocal center in male European starlings.

Journal of Comparative Neurology, 360: 726-734.

Hahn, T.P. & G.F. Ball (1995). Changes in brain GnRH associated with photo refractoriness in house sparrows (Passer domesticus). General and Comparative

Endocrinology, 99:349-363.

Bernard, D.J., M. Eens, & G.F. Ball (1996) Age- and behavior-related variation in the volume of song control nuclei in male European starlings. Journal of

Neurobiology, 30:329-339.

Ball, G.F., & T.P. Hahn (1997). GnRH Neuronal systems in birds and their relation to the control of seasonal reproduction. In: I.S. Parhar and Y. Sakuma (eds) GnRH

Neurons: Gene to Behavior, Brain Shuppan Publishers, Tokyo, pp. 325-342.

Ball, G.F., O. Tlemcani, & J. Balthazart, (1997) Induction of the ZENK protein after sexual interactions in male Japanese quail, Neuroreport, 8:2965-2970.

Bernard, D.J., & G.F. Ball (1997) Photoperiodic condition modulates the effects of testosterone on song control nuclei volumes in male European starlings. General and

Comparative Endocrinology 105:276-283.

Bernard, D.J., F.E. Wilson & G.F. Ball (1997) Testis-dependent and -independent effects of photoperiod on volumes of song control nuclei in American tree sparrows

(Spizella arborea). Brain Research, 760:163-169.

Balthazart, J., C. Castagna, & G.F. Ball (1997) aromatase inhibition blocks the activation and sexual differentiation of appetitive male sexual behavior in Japanese quail.

Behavioral Neuroscience, 111:381-397.

Bentley, G.E., G.E. Demas, R.J. Nelson & G.F. Ball (1998) Melatonin, immune function and cost of reproductive state in male European starlings. Proceedings of the

Royal Society B London, 265:1191-1195 .

Balthazart, J., P. Absil, M. Gerard, D. Appeltants & G.F. Ball (1998) Appetitive and consummatory male sexual behavior in Japanese quail are differentially regulated

by sub-regions of the preoptic medial nucleus. Journal of Neuroscience 18:6512-6527.

Ball, G.F. & T.Q. Gentner (1998) They're playing our song: Gene expression and birdsong perception. Neuron 21:271-274.

Ball, G.F., & S.H. Hulse (1998) Bird Song. American Psychologist, 53:37-58.

Balthazart, J., & G.F. Ball (1998) New insights into the regulation and function of brain estrogen synthase (aromatase). Trends in Neurosciences, 21:243-249.

Bentley, G.E., Van't Hof, T., & Ball, G.F. (1999) Seasonal neuroplasticity in the songbird telecephalon: A novel role for melatonin. Proceedings of the National

Academy of Sciences USA 96: 4674-4679.

MacDougall-Shackleton, S.A., S.H. Hulse & G.F. Ball (1998) Neural correlates of singing behavior in male zebra finches (Taenopygia guttata), Journal of

Neurobiology, 36:421-436.

MacDougall-Shackleton, S.A., S.H. Hulse & G.F. Ball. (1998) Neural bases of song preferences in female zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata),Neuroreport,

9:3047-3052.

Balthazart, J. & G.F. Ball (1998) The Japanese quail as a model system for the investigation of steroid-catecholamine interactions mediating appetitive and

consummatory aspects of male sexual behavior. Annual Review of Sex Research, 9:96-176.

MacDougall-Shackleton, S.A., & G.F. Ball, (1999). Comparative studies of sex differences in the song control system of songbirds. Trends in Neurosciences, 22:

432-436.

Ball, G.F., D.J. Bernard, A. Foidart, B. Lakaye, & J. Balthazard (1999). Steroid sensitive sites in the avian brain: Does the distribution of estrogen receptor alpha and

beta types provide insight into their function? Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 54: 28-40.

Riters, L.V., & G.F. Ball (1999). Lesions to the medial preoptic area affect singing in the male European starling (Sturnus vulgaris). Hormones and Behavior, 36:

276-286.

Appletants, D., P. Absil, J. Balthazart, & G.F. Ball (2000). Identification of the origin of catecholaminerigic inputs to HVc in canaries by retrograde tract tracing

combined with tyrosine hydroxylase immunocytochemistry. Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 18: 117-133.