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Juraska, Janice M.
Professor, Psychology
B.A., Lawrence University
M.A., University of Illinois
Ph.D., University of Colorado
Research Areas
Neural development and the influence of sex, hormones, and the environment
My students and I examine sex differences in neuronal structure in parts of the rat brain not directly related to reproductive function, such as the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Although male rats have a larger brain overall than female rats, we have found that, at the cellular level, there is considerable variability in the nature of sex differences. The environment also plays a role in the degree and direction of sex differences. Current research includes lifespan changes in sex differences in the number of myelinated axons in the corpus callosum, the hormonal basis for sex differences in neuron number in the cortex, and the role of the estrous cycle on the morphology of the hippocampus and cortex and its relationship to cognitive behavior, such as maze learning.
Representative Publications
Juraska JM, and Rubinow MJ. Hormones and memory. In Learning and Memory: A Comprehensive Reference (ed. J. Byrne) 3. Memory Systems (ed. H. Eichenbaum), Elsevier: London, in press.
Yates, M.A., J.A. Markham, S.E. Anderson, J.R. Morris and J.M. Juraska Regional variability in age-related loss of neurons from the primary visual cortex and medial prefrontal cortex of male and female rats, Brain Research. 1218:1-12, 2008.
Yates, M.A., J.M. Juraska, Pubertal ovarian hormone exposure reduces the number of myelinated axons in the splenium of the rat corpus callosum, Experimental Neurology 209: 284-287, 2008.
Markham, J. A. and J .M. Juraska Social recognition memory: Influence of age, sex, and ovarian hormonal status. Physiology and Behavior, 5: 881-888, 2007.
Markham, J. A., J. R. Morris and J. M. Juraska Neuron number decreases in the rat ventral, but not dorsal, medial prefrontal cortex between adolescence and adulthood. Neuroscience, 144: 961-968, 2007.
Markham JA, Morris JR, and Juraska JM. 2007. Neuron number decreases in the rat ventral, but not dorsal, medial prefrontal cortex between adolescence and adulthood. Neuroscience, 144:961-968.
Yates MA, and Juraska JM. 2007. Increases in size and myelination of the rat corpus callosum during adulthood are maintained into old age. Brain Research 1142:13-18.
Markham JA, Pych JC, and Juraska JM. 2002. Ovarian hormone replacement to aged ovariectomized female rats benefits acquisition of the Morris water maze. Hormones and Behavior 42:284-293.
Nuñez JL, Sodhi J, and Juraska JM. 2002. Ovarian hormones after postnatal day 20 reduce neuron number in the rat primary visual cortex. J. Neurobiology 52:312-321.
Additional Information
Related Research (By Area):
Aging
Development
Learning, Memory, and Plasticity
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