Elena Choleris

About

I may still accept a few undergraduate students for W26 and beyond.

In the lab we value diversity and we welcome applications from underrepresented groups, including women, people with disabilities, aboriginal people, visible minorities, and 2SLGBTQ+.

Research in the lab involves investigations into the neurotransmitters and hormonal underpinnings of social and cognitive behavior in rodents.

We are particularly interested in various regulatory and modulatory aspects of social behavior. Among many, we are investigating the neurobiological bases of (1) social learning (learning from others) whereby an individual acquires information from another individual, (2) social recognition (learning about others), individual identification and memory (3) sociability, an individual's tendency to prefer to spend time with social vs non social stimuli, and (3) agonistic interactions in males and females. Our research involves small rodents, mainly mice and it involves an integration of various aspects of neuroscience from Ethological to Pharmacological, Molecular and Genetic. Naturalistic behavioral models as well as an evolutionary interpretation of results are pivotal factors in our research. The involvement of acetylcholine, dopamine, oxytocin, vasopressin, and the sex hormones in the social transmission of food preferences and social recognition are, at present, the main focus of our research. We are identifying the networks of brain regions where hormones/neurochemicals interplay to underline social cognitive skills. To this aim, we employ behavioral, surgical, and molecular biology methods to pharmacologically manipulate these systems in specific brain regions.

Other projects are also on going in the lab, in collaboration with other labs at Guelph as well as in other Universities, both in Canada (Mac Master, University of Western Ontario) and abroad (The Rockefeller University, NY; Universita' di Parma, Italy; and King's College, London, UK).

The research in our lab of neuroendocrinology of social behavior is conducted by several very cool graduate students and numerous undergraduate students who join their projects.

Education

Ph.D., 1998 - Animal Biology – Ethology, University of Parma, Italy.

Professional Biologist Certificate, 1995

Laurea, 1994 - Biological Sciences, University of Parma, Italy.

Publications

Papers in Refereed Journals

1. Mitchnick K, Nicholson K, Wideman CE, Jardine KH, Jameison-Wiliams R, Creighton S, Milite C, Castellano S, Sbardella G, MacLusky NJ, Choleris E, Winters BD (2024). The Lysine Acetyltransferase PCAF Interacts with Estrogen Receptor Alpha in the Hippocampus of Gonadally Intact Male – but not Female - Rats to Enhance Short-term Memory. Journal of Neuroscience. JN-RM-1574-23 – accepted 15 July 2024 .
2. Lymer J, Bergman H, Yang S, Mallick R, Galea L, Choleris E, Fergusson D (2024). The Effects of Estrogens on Learning and Memory in Female Rodents – a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Protocol registered with Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/69qvc. Hormones and Behavior, 164: 105598. Doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105598
3. Kitchenham L, MacLellan A, Paletta P, Patel A, Choleris E, Mason G (2024). Do housing-induced changes in brain activity cause stereotypic behaviours in laboratory mice? Behavioral Brain Research, 462: 114862. Doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.114862.
4. Cantini D, Choleris E, Kavaliers M (2024). Neurobiology of Pathogen Avoidance and Mate Choice: Current and Future Directions. Animals, 14, 296. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020296
5. Sheppard PAS, Chandramohan D, Lumsden A, Vellone D, Denley MCS, Srivastava DP, Choleris E (2023). Social memory in female mice is rapidly modulated by 17b-estradiol through ERK and Akt modulation of synapse formation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 120(31): e2300191120. Doi: 10.1073/pnas.2300191120.
6. Kuun-Hadden T, Brar R, Klemens MN, MacLusky NJ, Choleris E (2023). Membrane Receptors Mediate the Rapid Facilitation of Short-Term Memory by Estradiol in the Dorsal Hippocampus of Female Mice. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, e13282. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jne.13282
7. Aspesi D, Bass N, Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2023). The role of androgens and estrogens in social interactions and social cognition. In special issue: Androgens and the Brain, Juan Lerma & Neil J MacLusky (Eds.), Neuroscience doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.03.028 (accepted on 28 March 2023).
8. Paletta P, Bass N, Aspesi D, Choleris E (2023). Sex Differences in Social Cognition. In: Sex Differences in Brain Function and Dysfunction, Claire Gibson and Liisa M. Galea (Eds.), Current Topics in Behavioral Neuroscience, 207-234. DOI: 10.1007/7854_2022_325.
9. Paletta P, Bass N, Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2022). The Role of Oxytocin in Shaping Complex Social Behaviours: Possible Interactions with other Neuromodulators. Philosophical Transactions B 377: 20210058. DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0058.
10. Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp K-P, Tyson C-D, Bishnoi IR, Choleris E (2022). Social Factors and the Neurobiology of Pathogen Avoidance. Biology Letters 18(2): 20210371. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0371.
11. Aspesi D, Choleris E (2022). Neuroendocrine underpinning of social recognition in males and females. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 34(2): e13070. doi: 10.1111/jne.13070.
12. Kavaliers M, Bishnoi IR, Ossenkopp K-P, Choleris E (2022). Progesterone and disgust: a response to “Progesterone Does Raise Disgust”. Hormones and Behavior, 137: 104936. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.104936.
13. Patel AV, Codeluppi SA, Ervin KJ, St-Denis MB, Choleris E, and Bailey CDC (2022). Developmental age and biological sex influence muscarinic receptor function and neuron morphology within layer VI of the medial prefrontal cortex. Cerebral Cortex, 32(15): 3137-3158. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhab406.
14. Kavaliers M, Bishnoi IR, Ossenkopp K-P, Choleris E (2021). Differential effects of progesterone on social recognition and the avoidance of pathogen threat by female mice. Hormones and Behavior, 127: 104873.
15. Kavaliers M, Bishnoi IR, Ossenkopp K-P, Choleris E (2021). Odor-based mate choice copying in deer mice is not affected by familiarity or kinship. Animal Cognition 25(2): 241-248 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-021-01550-z
16. Sheppard PAS, Asling HA, Walczyk-Mooradally A, Armstrong SE, Elad VM, Lalonde J, Choleris E (2021). Protein synthesis and actin polymerization in the rapid effects of 17β-estradiol on short-term social memory and dendritic spine dynamics in female mice. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 128: 105232. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105232.
17. Adcock AM, Choleris E, Denomme M, Khan H, Levison L, MacLellan A, Nazal B, Niel L, Nip E, Mason G (2021). Where are you from? Female mice raised in enriched or conventional cages differ socially, and can be discriminated by other mice. Behavioral Brain Research, 400: 113025
18. Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp K-P, Choleris E (2020). Pathogens, odor and disgust in rodents. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 119, 281-293
19. Wilson HA, Carolyn Creighton C, Scharfman H, Choleris E, MacLusky NJ (2020). Endocrine Insights into the pathophysiology of Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Neuroscientist, 2020: 1-8, doi: 10.1177/1073858420952046.
20. Galea L, Choleris E, Albert A, McCarthy MM, Sohrabji F (2020). The promises and pitfalls of sex difference research. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 56: 100817.
21. Wilson HA, Martin ER, Howes C, Wasson C, Newman A, Choleris E, MacLusky NJ (2020). Low dose prenatal testosterone exposure decreases the corticosterone response to stress in adult male, but not female, mice. Brain Research, 1729: 146613, doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146613.
22. Hall FS, Choleris E (2020). A place for behavior in neuroscience: Recent advances in behavioral neuroscience. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 110: 1-2 (editorial).
23. Ogawa S, Tsukahara S, Choleris E, Vasudevan N (2020). Estrogenic regulation of social behavior and sexually dimorphic brain formation. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 110: 46-59.
24. Kitchenham L, Ervin KS, Tigert M, Choleris E, Mason G (2019). Does demonstrator relevance affect social preferences and the social transmission of food preferences in female mice (Mus musculus)? Behavioral Processes 169: 103983.
25. Díez-León M, Kitchenham L, Duprey R, Bailey CDC, Choleris E, Lewis M, Mason G (2019). Neurophysiological correlates of stereotypic behaviour in a model carnivore species. Behavioural Brain Research. 373: 112056.
26. Hall FS, Choleris E (2019). Introduction to the special issue from the 2017 meeting of the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 76(Pt B): 185-186. (editorial).
27. Mitchnick KA, Mendell AL, Wideman C, Jardine K, Creighton SD, Mueller AM, Choleris E, MacLusky NJ, Winters BD (2019). Dissociable involvement of estrogen receptors in perirhinal cortex-mediated object-place memory in male rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 107: 98-108.
28. Nip E, Adcock A, Nazal B, MacLellan A, Niel L, Choleris E, Levison L, Mason G (2019). Why are Enriched Mice Nice? Investigating how Environmental Enrichment reduces Agonism in Female C57BL/6, DBA/2, and BALB/c Mice. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 217: 73-82.
29. Kavaliers M, Colwell DD, Wah DTO, Bishnoi IR, Ossenkopp K-P, Choleris E (2019). Conspecific infection threat rapidly biases the social responses of female mice: involvement of oxytocin. Hormones and Behavior. 113: 67-75.
30. Sheppard PAS, Choleris E, Galea LAM (2019). Structural plasticity of the hippocampus in response to estrogens in female rodents. Molecular Brain, 12(1): 22. doi: 10.1186/s13041-019-0442-7.
31. Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp K-P, Choleris E (2019). Social Neuroscience of disgust. Genes Brain and Behavior, 18: e12508. One of the top cited articles in Genes Brain and Behavior in 2019-21. Top cited article in G2B.
32. Paletta P, Sheppard PAS, Matta R, Ervin KSJ, Choleris E (2018). Rapid effects of estrogens on short-term memory: possible mechanisms. Hormones and Behavior, 104: 88-99 (one of 10 top cited articles in this journal in 2019 and 2020).
33. Remage-Healey L, Choleris E, Balthazart J. (2018). Introduction to special issue: “Rapid Effects of Steroids in the Brain”. Hormones and Behavior, 104: 1-3.
34. Balthazart J, Choleris E, Remage-Healey L (2018). Steroids and the brain: 50 years of research, conceptual shifts and the ascent of non-classical and membrane-initiated actions. Hormones and Behavior, 99: 1-8.
35. Lymer JM, Sheppard PAS, Kuun T, Blackman A, Jani N, Mahbub S, Choleris E (2018). Estrogens and their receptors in the medial amygdala rapidly promote social recognition in female mice. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 89: 30-38.
36. Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2018). The role of social cognition in parasite and pathogen avoidance. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 373: 20170206.
37. Choleris E, Galea LAM, Sohrabji F, Frick KM (2018). Sex differences in the brain: implications for behavioral and biomedical research. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews 85: 126–145.
38. Alibhai FJ, Reitz CJ, Peppler W, Basu P, Sheppard PAS, Choleris E, Tsimakouridze E, Bakovic M, Wright DC, Martino TA (2018). Female clockΔ19/Δ19 mice are protected from the development of age-dependent cardiomyopathy. Cardiovascular Research, 114(2): 259-271.
39. Sheppard PAS, Koss W, Frick KM, Choleris E (2018). Rapid actions of estrogens and their receptors on memory acquisition and consolidation in females. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 30(2): e12485. (invited paper – granted free download in 2020 because one of 5 top cited articles in this journal in 2019).
40. Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2017). Social cognition and the neurobiology of rodent mate choice. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 57(4): 846-856.
41. Matta R, Tiessen AN, Choleris E (2017). The role of dorsal hippocampal dopamine D1-type receptors in social learning, social interactions, and food Intake in male and female mice. Neuropsychopharmacology 42: 2344–2353.
42. Kavaliers M, Matta R, Choleris E (2017). Mate choice copying, social information processing and the roles of oxytocin. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 72: 232–242.
43. Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2017). Out-group threat responses, in-group bias, and nonapeptide involvement are conserved across vertebrates. American Naturalist 189(4): 453-458.
44. Lymer JM, Robinson A, Winters BD, Choleris E (2017). Rapid effects of dorsal hippocampal G-protein coupled estrogen receptor on learning in female mice. Psychoneuroendocrinology 77: 131–140.
45. Penney J, Mendell A, Zeng M, Tran K, Lymer J, Turner P, Choleris E, MacLusky N, Lu R (2017). Luman/CREB3 is a key regulator of glucocorticoid-mediated stress responses. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 439(5): 95–104.
46. Gobinath A, Choleris E, Galea LAM (2017) Sex, hormones, and genotype interact to influence psychiatric disease, treatment and behavioral research. Journal of Neuroscience Research, 95: 50–64.
47. Galea LAM. Frick KM, Hampson E, Sohrabji F, Choleris E (2017). Why estrogens matter for behavior and brain health. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 76: 363–379 (invited paper).
48. Palmer D, Creighton S, Prado VF, Prado MAM, Choleris E, Winters BD (2016). Mice deficient for striatal Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter (VAChT) display impaired short-term but normal long-term object recognition memory Behavioral Brain Research 311: 267-278.
49. Phillips D, Choleris E, Ervin KSJ, Fureix C, Harper L, Reynolds K, Niel L, Mason GJ (2016). Cage-induced stereotypic behaviour in laboratory mice covaries with nucleus accumbens fosB/delta fosB expression. Behavioral Brain Research 301: 238–242.
50. Phan A, Suschkov S, Molinaro L, Reynolds K, Lymer JM, Bailey CDC, Kow L-M, MacLusky NJ, Pfaff DW, Choleris E (2015). Rapid increases in immature synapses parallel estrogen-induced hippocampal learning enhancements. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 112(52): 16018–16023.
51. Ervin SJK, Lymer JM, Matta R, Clipperton-Allen AE, Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2015). Estrogen involvement in social behavior in rodents: rapid and long-term actions. Hormones and Behavior, 74: 53–76.
52. Gabor CS, Lymer JM, Phan A, Choleris E (2015). Rapid effects of the G-Protein Coupled Estrogen Receptor (GPER) on learning and dorsal hippocampus dendritic spines in female mice. Physiology and Behavior, 149(1): 53–60.
53. Harper L, Choleris E, Ervin SJK, Fureix C, Reynolds K, Walker M, Mason G (2015). Stereotypic mice are aggressed by their cagemates, and tend to be poor demonstrators in social learning tasks. Animal Welfare, 24: 463-473.
54. Ervin SJK, Mulvale E, Gallagher N, Roussel V, Choleris E (2015). Activation of the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor, but not estrogen receptor α or β, rapidly enhances social learning. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 58: 51-66.
55. Clipperton-Allen AE, Ingrao JC, Ruggiero L, Batista L, Ovari J, Hammermueller J, Armstrong JN, Bienzle D, Choleris E, Turner PV (2015). Long-term provision of environmental resources alters behavior but not physiology or neuroanatomy of male and female BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, 54 (6): 718–730.
56. Kavaliers M, Cloutier CL, Ossekopp K-P, Choleris E (2014). Pathogen threat and unfamiliar males rapidly bias the social responses of female mice. Animal Behaviour, 97: 105-111.
57. Berretti R, Santoru F, Locci A, Sogliano A, Calza A, Choleris E, Porcu P, Concas A (2014). Neonatal exposure to estradiol decreases hypothalamic allopregnanolone concentrations and alters agonistic and sexual but not affective behavior in adult female rats. Hormones and Behavior, 65: 142-153.
58. Ervin SJK, Phan A, Gabor CS, Choleris E (2013). Rapid oestrogenic regulation of social and non-social learning. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 25(11): 1116–1132.
59. Choleris E, Cazzin L, Lymer JM, Amor T, Lu R, Kavaliers M, Valsecchi P (2013). Acute corticosterone sexually dimorphically facilitates social learning and inhibits feeding in mice. Neuropharmacology, 75: 191–200.
60. Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2013). Neurobiological aspects of the effects of anticipation of interaction with a female on male cognitive performance. Archives of Sexual Behavior 42(3): 331–333.
61. Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2013). Neurobiological correlates of sociality, mate choice and learning. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 28(1): 4-5.
62. Phan A, Gabor CS, Favaro KJ, Kaschak SL, Armstrong JN, MacLusky NJ, Choleris E (2012). Low doses of 17β-estradiol rapidly improve learning and increase hippocampal dendritic spines. Neuropsychopharmacology, 37(10): 2299–2309.
63. Choleris E, Phan A, Clipperton-Allen AE, Valsecchi P, Kavaliers M (2012). Estrogenic involvement in social learning, social recognition and pathogen avoidance. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 33(2): 140–159 (invited paper).
64. Kavaliers M, Clipperton-Allen AE, Cragg CL, Gustafsson J-Å, Korach KS, Muglia L, Choleris E (2012). Male risk taking, female odors, and the role of estrogen receptors. Physiology and Behavior 107(5): 751-761.
65. Martyn AC, Choleris E, DJ Gillis, Armstrong JN, Amor TR, McCluggage ARR, Turner PV, Liang G, Lu R (2012). Luman/CREB3 recruitment factor (LRF) regulates glucocorticoid receptor activity and is essential for prolactin-mediated maternal instinct. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 32(24): 5140-5150.
66. Choleris E, McCarthy MM, Kavaliers M (2012). Sex in the brain: Donald Wells Pfaff and motivation from genes to molecules to behavior. Hormones and Behavior, 61(1): 1-3. (invited paper).
67. Gabor CS, Phan A, Clipperton-Allen AE, Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2012). Interplay of oxytocin, vasopressin and sex hormones in the regulation of social recognition. Behavioral Neuroscience, 126(1): 97–109. (invited paper).
68. Clipperton-Allen AE, Lee A, Reyes A, Devidze N, Phan A, Pfaff DW Choleris E (2012). Oxytocin, vasopressin and estrogen gene expression in relation to social recognition in female mice. Physiology and Behavior, 105(4): 915–924.
69. Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2011). Sociality, pathogen avoidance and the neuropeptides, oxytocin and vasopressin. Psychological Science, 22(11): 1367–1374.
70. Choleris E, Clipperton-Allen AE, Gray DG, Diaz-Gonzalez S, Welsman RG (2011). Differential effects of dopamine receptor D1-type and D2-type antagonists and phase of the estrous cycle on social learning of food preferences, feeding and social interactions in mice. Neuropsychopharmacology, 36(7): 1689-1702.
71. Phan A, Lancaster KE, Armstrong JN, MacLusky N, Choleris E (2011). Rapid effects of estrogen receptor α and β selective agonists on learning and dendritic spines in female mice. Endocrinology, 152(4): 1492–1502.
72. Clipperton-Allen AE, Almey A, Melichercik A, Choleris E (2011). Effects of an estrogen receptor alpha agonist on agonistic behavior in gonadally intact and gonadectomized male and female mice. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 36(7): 981-995.
73. Clipperton-Allen AE, Cragg CL, Wood AJ, Pfaff DW, Choleris E (2010). Agonistic behavior in males and females: Effects of an estrogen receptor beta agonist in gonadectomized and gonadally intact mice. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 35(7): 1008-1022.
74. Choleris E, Clipperton-Allen AE, Phan A, Kavaliers M (2009). Neuroendocrinology of social information processing in rats and mice. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 30(4): 442-459. (invited paper).
75. Levy AM, Choleris E, Leri F (2009). Enhancing effect of heroin on social recognition learning in male Sprague-Dawley rats: modulation by heroine exposure. Psychopharmacology, 204(3): 413-421.
76. Choleris E, Clipperton AE, Phan A, Kavaliers M (2008). Estrogen receptor b agonists in neurobehavioral investigations. Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs, 9(7): 760-773. (invited paper).
77. Pfaff DW, Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2008). Mechanisms underlying an ability to behave ethically. The American Journal of Bioethics-Neuroscience, 8(5): 10-19. Commentaries: 20-35.
78. Pfaff DW, Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2008). Response to peer commentaries on ‘Mechanisms underlying an ability to behave ethically’-Neuroscience addresses ethical behaviors: transitioning from philosophical dialogues to testable scientific theories of brain and behavior. The American J of Bioethics-Neuroscience, 8(5): W1-W3.
79. Kavaliers M, Devidze N, Choleris E, Fudge M, Gustafsson J-Å, Korach KS, Pfaff DW, Ogawa S (2008). Estrogen receptors α and β mediate different aspects of the facilitatory effects of female cues on male risk taking. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 33(5): 634-642.
80. Choleris E, Devidze N, Kavaliers M, Pfaff DW (2008) Steroidal/neuropeptide interactions in hypothalamus and amygdala related to social anxiety. In: Advances in Vasopressin and Oxytocin - From Genes to Behaviour to Disease, R Landgraf, I Neumann Eds. Progress in Brain Research, 170: 291-303. (invited paper).
81. Clipperton AE, Spinato J, Chernets C, Pfaff DW, Choleris E (2008). Differential effects of estrogen receptor alpha and beta specific agonists on social learning of food preferences in female mice. Neuropsychopharmacology, 33(10): 2362-2375.
82. Ågmo A, Choleris E, Kavaliers M, Pfaff DW, Ogawa S (2008). Social and sexual incentive properties of estrogen receptor a, estrogen receptor b, or oxytocin knockout mice. Genes, Brain and Behavior, 7(1): 70–77.
83. Young GS, Choleris E, Lund FE, Kirkland JB (2007). Like niacin deficient rats, Cd38-/- mice show improved performance in the water maze. Current Topics in Nutraceutical Research, 5(2/3): 111-120.
84. Choleris E, Little SR, Mong JA, Puram SV, Langer R, Pfaff DW (2007). Microparticle based delivery of oxytocin receptor antisense DNA in the medial amygdala blocks social recognition in female mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 104(11): 4670-4675.
85. Del Seppia C, Ghione S, Luschi P, Ossenkopp K-P, Choleris E., Kavaliers M (2007). Pain Perception and Electromagnetic Fields: A Review. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 31(4): 619–642.
86. Shelley D, Choleris E, Kavaliers M, Pfaff DW (2006). Mechanisms underlying sexual and affiliative behaviors of mice: relation to generalized CNS arousal. Social Cognitive & Affective Neuroscience, 1(3): 260-270.
87. Choleris E, Ogawa S, Kavaliers M, Gustafsson J-Å, Korach KS, Muglia LJ, Pfaff DW (2006). Involvement of estrogen receptor a, b and oxytocin in social discrimination: a detailed behavioral analysis with knockout female mice. Genes Brain and Behavior, 5(7): 528–539.
88. Young GS, Choleris E, Kirkland JB (2006). Use of salient and non-salient visuospatial cues by rats in the Morris Water Maze. Physiology & Behavior, 87(4): 794–799.
89. Blutstein T, Devidze N. Choleris E, Jasnow AM, Pfaff DW, Mong JA (2006). Oestradiol up-regulates Glutamine Synthetase mRNA and Protein Expression in the Hypothalamus and Hippocampus: implications for a role of hormonally responsive glia in amino acid neurotransmission. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 18(9): 692-702.
90. Young GS, Choleris E, Lund J, Kirkland JB (2006). Decreased cADPR and increased NAD+ in the Cd38-/- mouse. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 346(1): 188-192.
91. Kavaliers M, Choleris E, Ågmo A, Braun WJ, Colwell DD, Muglia LJ, Ogawa S, Pfaff DW (2006). Inadvertent social information and the avoidance of parasitized male mice: a novel role for oxytocin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 103(11): 4293-4298.
92. Kavaliers M, Choleris E, Ågmo A, Muglia LJ, Ogawa S, Pfaff DW (2005). Involvement of the oxytocin gene in the recognition and avoidance of parasitized males by female mice. Animal Behavior, 70(3): 693–702.
93. Kavaliers M, Choleris E, Pfaff DW (2005). Recognition and avoidance of the odors of parasitized conspecifics and predators: differential genomic correlates. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 29(8): 1347–1359.
94. Kavaliers M, Choleris E, Pfaff DW (2005) Genes, odours and the recognition of parasitized individuals TRENDS in Parasitology, 21(9): 423-429.
95. Kavaliers M, Colwell DD, Choleris E (2005). Kinship, familiarity and social status modulate social learning about ‘micropredators’ (biting flies) in deer mice. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology, 58(1): 60–71.
96. Choleris E, Kavaliers M, Pfaff DW (2004). Functional genomics of social recognition. Journal of Neuroendocrinology, 16(4): 383-389.
97. Ogawa S, Choleris E, Pfaff DW (2004). Genetic influences on aggressive behavior and arousability in animals. Annals of The New York Academy of Sciences, 1036(1): 257-266.
98. Kavaliers M, Choleris E, Ågmo A, Pfaff DW (2004). Olfactory mediated parasite recognition and avoidance: linking genes to behavior. Hormones and Behavior, 46(3): 272-283.
99. Kavaliers M, Ågmo A, Choleris E, Gustafsson J-Å, Korach KS, Muglia LJ, Pfaff DW, Ogawa S (2004). Oxytocin and estrogen receptor -a and -b knockout mice provide discriminably different odor cues in behavioral assays. Genes Brain and Behavior, 3(4): 189–195.
100. Choleris E, Gustafsson J-Å, Korach KS, Muglia LJ, Pfaff DW, Ogawa S (2003). An estrogen dependent four-gene micronet mediating social recognition: a study with oxytocin- and estrogen receptor a- and b-knockout mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 100(10): 6192-6197.
101. Mong JA, Devidze N, Frail D, O’Connor L, Samuel M, Choleris E, Ogawa S, Pfaff DW (2003). Estradiol differentially regulates lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase transcript levels in the rodent brain: Evidence from high-density oligonucleotide arrays and in situ hybridization. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 100(1): 318–323.
102. Kavaliers M, Colwell DD, Choleris E, Braun WJ (2003). Brief exposure to parasitized male odour alters the subsequent responses of female mice to male odour. Animal Behavior 65(1): 59–68.
103. Kavaliers M, Colwell DD, Choleris E (2003). Learning to fear and cope with a natural stressor: individually and socially acquired corticosterone and avoidance responses to biting flies. Hormones and Behavior, 43(1): 99-107.
104. Del Seppia C, Mezzasalma L, Choleris E, Luschi P, Ghione S (2003). Effects of magnetic field exposure on open field behaviour and nociceptive responses in mice. Behavioural Brain Research, 144(1-2): 1-9.
105. Kavaliers M, Fudge MA, Colwell DD, Choleris E (2003). Aversive and avoidance responses of female mice to the odors of males infected with an ectoparasite and the effects of prior familiarity. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 54(5): 423-430.
106. Kavaliers M, Colwell DD, Choleris E, Ågmo A, Muglia LJ, Ogawa S, Pfaff DW (2003). Impaired discrimination of and aversion to parasitized males odors by female oxytocin knockout mice. Genes Brain & Behavior, 2(4): 220-230.
107. Choleris E, Del Seppia C, Thomas AW, Luschi P, Ghione S, Moran GR, Prato FS (2002). Shielding, but not zeroing of the ambient magnetic field reduces stress-induced analgesia in mice. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 269(1487): 193-201.
108. Valsecchi P, Razzoli MI, Choleris E (2002). The Influence of kinship and familiarity on the social and reproductive behaviour of female Mongolian gerbils. Ethology Ecology and Evolution 14(3): 239-253.
109. Choleris E, Thomas AW, Kavaliers M, Prato FS (2001). A detailed ethological analysis of the mouse open field test: effects of diazepam, chlordiazepoxide and an extremely low frequency pulsed magnetic field. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 25(3): 235-260. (invited paper).
110. Kavaliers M, Colwell DD, Choleris E (2001). Learning from others to cope with biting flies: social learning of fear-induced conditioned analgesia and active avoidance. Behavioral Neuroscience, 115(3): 661-674.
111. Kavaliers M, Colwell DD, Choleris E (2001). NMDA-Mediated social learning of fear-induced conditioned analgesia to biting flies. Neuroreport, 12(4): 663-667.
112. Kavaliers M, Choleris E & Colwell DD (2001). Brief exposure to female odors “emboldens” male mice by reducing predator-induced behavioral and hormonal responses. Hormones and Behavior, 40(4): 497-509.
113. Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2001). Antipredator responses and defensive behavior: ecological and ethological approaches for the neurosciences. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 25(7-8): 577-586.
114. Choleris E, Thomas AW, Ossenkopp K-P, Kavaliers M, Valsecchi P, Prato FS (2000). Sex differences in conditioned taste aversion and in the effects of exposure to a pulsed magnetic field in deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus. Physiology & Behavior, 71(3): 237-249.
115. Del Seppia C, Luschi P, Ghione S, Crosio E, Choleris E, Papi F (2000). Exposure to a hypogeomagnetic field or oscillating magnetic fields similarly reduce stress-induced analgesia in C57 male mice. Life Sciences, 66(14): 1299-1386.
116. Kavaliers M, Colwell DD, Choleris E (2000). Parasites and behavior: an ethopharmacological perspective. Parasitology Today, 16(11): 464-468.
117. Choleris E, Kavaliers M (1999). Social learning in animals: sex differences and neurobiological analysis. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 64(4): 767-776. (invited paper).
118. Kavaliers M, Colwell DD, Choleris E, Ossenkopp K-P (1999). Learning to cope with biting flies: rapid NMDA mediated acquisition of conditioned analgesia. Behavioral Neuroscience, 113(1): 126-135.
119. Kavaliers M, Colwell DD, Choleris E (1999). Parasites and behavior: an ethopharmacological analysis and biomedical implications. Neuroscience and Biobehavioural Reviews, 23(7): 1037-1045.
120. Choleris E, Valsecchi P, Wang Y, Ferrari P, Kavaliers M, Mainardi M (1998). Social learning of a food preference in male and female Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) is facilitated by the anxiolytic chlordiazepoxide. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 60(2): 575-584.
121. Kavaliers M, Colwell DD, Choleris E (1998) Parasitized female mice display reduced aversive responses to the odours of infected males. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 265(1401): 1111-1118.
122. Kavaliers M, Colwell DD, Choleris E (1998). Analgesic responses of male mice exposed to the odors of parasitized females: effects of male sexual experience and infection status. Behavioral Neuroscience, 112(4): 1001-1011.
123. Kavaliers M, Colwell DD, Choleris E (1998). Sex differences in opioid and N-methyl-D-aspartate mediated non-opioid biting fly exposure induced analgesia in deer mice. Pain, 77(2): 163-171.
124. Galef BG, Rudolf B, Whiskin EE, Choleris E, Mainardi M, Valsecchi P (1998). Familiarity and relatedness: effects on social learning about foods by Norway rats and Mongolian gerbils. Animal Learning & Behavior, 26(4): 448-454.
125. Kavaliers M, Choleris E, Prato FS, Ossenkopp K-P (1998). Evidence for the involvement of nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase in the modulation of opioid-induced analgesia and the inhibitory effects of exposure to 60 Hz magnetic fields in the land snail. Brain Research, 809(1): 50-57.
126. Choleris E, Guo C, Liu H, Mainardi M, Valsecchi P (1997). The effect of demonstrator age and number on duration of socially-induced food preferences in house mouse (Mus domesticus). Behavioural Processes, 41(1): 69-77.
127. Kavaliers M, Choleris E, Saucier DM (1997). The NMDA receptor antagonist, NPC 12626, reduces the pronociceptive effects of orphanin FQ and kappa opiate antinociception in the land snail, Cepaea nemoralis. Peptides, 18(7): 943-947.g
128. Kavaliers M, Choleris E (1997). Sex differences in NMDA involvement in the mediation of kappa opiate and predator-induced analgesia in mice (Mus musculus domesticus). Brain Research, 768(1-2): 30-36.
129. Valsecchi P, Choleris E, Moles A, Guo C, Mainardi M (1996). Kinship and familiarity as factors affecting social transfer of food preferences in adult Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 110(3): 243-251.

Edited Book

Oxytocin, Vasopressin and Related Peptides in the Regulation of Behavior (2013). Editors: Elena Choleris, Donald W Pfaff and Martin Kavaliers, Cambridge University Press. New York.

Book Chapters

1. Paletta P, Aspesi D, Bass N, Choleris E (2023). The Study of Social Cognition: Social Recognition and Social Learning in Laboratory Rats and Mice. In: Animal Models of Reproductive Behavior, Raúl Paredes, Wendy Portillo, Marie Bedos (Eds.). Springer Nature Protocols, Neuromethods 200 series. Pp. 1-31. (invited contribution).
2. Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp K-P, Choleris E (2021). Pathogen and Toxin Disgust in Rodents. In: The Handbook of Disgust Research: Modern Perspectives and Applications. Nathan S. Consedine, Philip A. Powell AG Eds. Springer Nature Switzerland (in press). (invited paper)
3. Sheppard PAS, Kuun T, Paletta P, Choleris E (2020). Who are you and what do you know? Estrogenic regulation of social recognition and social learning. In: Estrogens and Memory: Basic Research and Clinical implications. Karyn M Frick (Ed.). Oxford University Press. Pp. 170-183. (invited paper).
4. Ervin KSJ, Choleris E (2019). Neuroendocrinology of social and non-social learning. In: The Oxford Handbook on Evolutionary Psychology and Behavioral Endocrinology. Lisa Welling and Todd Shackelford (Eds). Oxford University Press. Pp. 66-85. (invited paper).
5. Matta R, Choleris E, Kavaliers M (2016). The Amygdala. In Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. (Eds.). Virgil Zeigler-Hill and Todd K. Shackelford, Springer-Verlag. Pp 1-4. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_726-1). (invited paper).
6. Matta R, Ervin SJK, Choleris E (2016). The neurobiology of social learning. Chpt 8 in: Animal Cognition: Principles, Evolution, and Development. Mary C. Olmstead (Ed.). Nova Science Publishers, New York. Pp. 171-200. (invited paper).
7. Dore R, Phan A, Clipperton-Allen AE, Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2013). The involvement of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in social recognition and social learning: interplay with the sex hormones. In: Oxytocin, Vasopressin and Related Peptides in the Regulation of Behavior. Eds.: E Choleris, DW Pfaff and M Kavaliers, Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 232-255.
8. Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2013). Oxytocin, Sociality and Pathogen Avoidance. In: Oxytocin, Vasopressin and Related Peptides in the Regulation of Behavior. Eds.: E Choleris, DW Pfaff and M Kavaliers, Cambridge University Press, New York, pp 256-269.
9. Choleris E, Kavaliers M, Pfaff DW (2008). Brain mechanisms theoretically underlying extremes of social behaviors: the best and the worst. In: Hormones and Social Behaviors, Eds.: DW Pfaff, C Kordon and Y Christen. Berlin, Springer-Verlag, pp 13-25.
10. Pfaff DW, Choleris E, Ogawa S (2005). Genes for sex hormone receptors controlling mouse aggression. In: Novartis Foundation Symposium on Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Aggression. Eds.: DW Pfaff, RJ Nelson and EB Keverne. New York, Wiley. Vol. 268, pp 78-89; discussion pp 89-99 (invited paper).
11. Ogawa S, Nomura M, Choleris E, Pfaff DW (2005). Differential role of two types of estrogen receptors in the regulation of aggressive behaviors in mice. In: Biology of Aggression, Ed RJ Nelson, Oxford University Press, pp 231-249.
12. Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp K-P, Thomas AW, Prato FS, Choleris E (1998) Electromagnetic fields and learning: the importance of experimental design and analysis. In: Electricity and Magnetism in Biology and Medicine, F Bersani, Ed., Plenum Press, New York, pp 625-628. (invited paper).

Invited Presentations

1. Choleris E, Aspesi D, Paletta P, Peng S, Kachmarchuk O, Sexton C, Ladouceur KE, Cantini D (2023). Hormone regulation of brain circuits of social cognition in male and female mice. Symposium: Interplay of estrogens, antidepressants and behavior: classical and rapid effects. Mediterranean Neuroscience Society Conference.
2. Choleris E, Paletta P, Aspesi D, Bass N, Peng S, Kachmarchuk O, Sexton C, Ladouceur KE, Cantini D (2023). The neuroendocrinology of social cognition in male and female mice. Symposium: modulation of synaptic function and behavior by neurosteroids and endocrine disruptors. 11th International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) World Congress of Neuroscience, Granada, Spain. Abstract 148.
3. Choleris E, Paletta P, Aspesi D, Kachmarchuk O, Peng S, Sexton C. (2023). Hormone-Regulated Brain Circuits of Social Cognition in Adult Female and Male Mice. Symposium: Stress, Sex, Social and (reproductive) Senescence: The 4 Ss of lifespan neuroplasticity. 17th annual meeting of the Organization for the study of Sex Differences (OSSD), Calgary, AB, Canada.
4. Choleris E, Paletta P, Sexton C, Kachmarchuk O, Peng S, Aspesi D (2023). Neuroendocrinology of social cognition in female and male mice. Seminar series of the Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi (NICO), Torino, Italy. Delivered remotely.
5. Choleris E, Paletta P, Aspesi D, Kachmarchuk O, Sexton C, Sheppard PAS (2022). Estrogens affect short term social recognition memory in various brain regions in a receptor-dependent manner: Unravelling the mechanisms. In: Estrogens and the Brain: the good, the bad and the frankly puzzling. 11th International Meeting “Steroids and Nervous System”, Torino, Italy. Rescheduled to 2022 (from 2020) due to COVID-19 pandemic. Delivered remotely.
6. Choleris E (2021). Brain regions involved in the rapid action of estrogens and their receptors on social cognition. Minisymposium: Estrogens Across the Adult Female Lifespan: Rapid and Chronic Influences of Estrogens on Structural Plasticity, Memory, and Disease, Society for Neuroscience Annual Conference, Washington DC, USA. Rescheduled to 2021 (from 2020) due to COVID-19 pandemic. Delivered remotely.
7. Choleris E., Lymer JM, Paletta P, Gabor CS, Ervin KS (2020). GPER-1 rapidly enhances short-term social and non-social memories. In: New Understanding of Neural and Behavioral Regulation by GPER-1. Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Conference, Atlanta, GA, USA. Rescheduled to 2021 (from 2020) due to COVID-19 shutdown.
8. Choleris E (2021). Hormones, brain and social cognition. Women’s Health Research Cluster, Seminar Series, University of British Columbia, Canada. Delivered remotely due to COVID-19 pandemic.
9. Aspesi D, Brill ZR, Guillaume G, Choleris E (2021) Testosterone in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis rapidly modulates social recognition and aggression in male mice. Virtual International Meeting “Steroids and Nervous System”, Turin, Italy. Delivered (by Dario Aspesi) remotely due to COVID-19 pandemic.
10. Choleris E (2020). Neurohormonal regulation of social and non-social cognition in mice. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Canada. Delivered remotely due to COVID-19 pandemic.
11. Choleris E, Matta R, Tiessen AN, Underwood EA, Bass N, Limebeer CL, Parker LA (2018). Sex differences in dopamine-mediated social learning. In: Sex differences in function and survival of neural networks governing cognition and affect. International Congress of Neuroendocrinology, Toronto, ON, Canada.
12. Choleris E, Phan A, Lymer JM, Sheppard PAS, Clipperton-Allen AE, Ervin KS, Gabor CS, Paletta P (2017). Estrogenic regulation of social recognition and social learning in mice. In: Estrogenic Regulation of Social Behavior. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society Conference, Hiroshima, Japan.
13. Choleris E, Phan A, Matta R, Ervin KS, Kavaliers M (2017). Evaluation of social cognition in neural injury. In: Estrogenic Regulation of Social Behavior. In: Assessing changes in cognitive and affective behaviors in experimental models of acute neurologic injury: Challenges and solutions. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society Conference, Hiroshima, Japan.
14. Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2017). Neurobiology of pathogen and parasite avoidance in rodents. In: Evolution of pathogen and parasite avoidance behaviours. Scientific meeting by the Royal Society at Chicheley Hall, home of the Kavli Royal Society International Centre, Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, UK.
15. Choleris E, Phan A, Matta R, Lymer JM, Ervin KS (2017). Animal tests of social cognition for the assessment of the effects of neural injury. In: meet the professor series, Women’s Health in Neuroscience Program, Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Texas A&M HSC College of Medicine, Bryan, TX, USA.
16. Choleris E (2017). Hormonal factors in male and female social behavior in rodents. In: “Sex differences in the hippocampus and related structures: Implications for cognition, stress reactivity, and neuroprotection throughout the lifespan”, Annual Meeting of the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences, Montreal, QB, Canada.
17. Choleris E, Phan A, Lymer JM, Sheppard PAS, Ervin SJK, Paletta P, Kuun T (2017). Estrogens and the brain: rapid effects on learning. Seminario Institucional, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Santiago de Queretaro, QRO, Mexico.
18. Choleris E, Phan A, Lymer JM, Sheppard P, Ervin SJK (2017). Brain regions involved in the rapid action of estrogens and their receptors on learning. In: Estrogens across the lifespan: rapid and chronic influences of estrogens on structural plasticity, memory and disease. 9th International Meeting “Steroids and Nervous System”, Turin, Italy.
19. Choleris E, Phan A (2017). Rapid increases in immature synapses parallel estrogen-induced hippocampal learning enhancements. Seminars series in Plasticidad y Conducta Sexual, Departamento de Neurobiología Conductal y Cognitiva, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Santiago de Queretaro, QRO, Mexico.
20. Choleris E, Kavaliers M (2017). Neurobiology of Mate Choice and Social Recognition in Rodents. In: Integrating Cognitive, Motivational and Sensory Biases Underlying Acoustic and Multimodal Mate Choice. The Society for Comparative and Integrative Biology Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, USA.
21. Choleris E, Clipperton-Allen A, Ervin KSJ, Lymer JM, Gabor CS, Sheppard P, Phan, A (2016). Sex differences in rodent social behavior: hormonal influences. In: Sex differences in the brain: implications for behavioral and biomedical research. IBNS Conference, Budapest, Hungary.
22. Choleris E (2016). Rapid effects of estrogens in the brain: implication for learning and memory. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
23. Choleris E, Phan A, Lymer J, Ervin SJK, Gabor CS (2015). Rapid action of estrogens and their receptors in the brain: implications for learning. In: Why sex hormones matter for behavior and brain health, IBNS Conference, Victoria, BC, Canada.
24. Choleris E, Phan A, Lymer J, Ervin SJK, Gabor CS (2015). The involvement of the hippocampus in the rapid effects of estrogens and their receptors on learning. Department of Psychology, Brock University, St Catharines, ON, Canada.
25. Choleris E, Phan A, Lymer J, Ervin K, Gabor CS (2015). Estrogen receptors in the brain rapidly affect learning and neuronal dendritic spines. MiNDS graduate colloquium series. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences. McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
26. Ervin SJK, Phan A, Lymer J, Choleris E (2014). Hippocampal estrogens and their receptors rapidly affect social and non-social learning. International Psychoneuroendocrinology Conference, Montreal, QB, Canada.
27. Choleris E, A Phan, J Lymer, CS Gabor, SJK Ervin (2014). Hippocampal estrogens and their receptors rapidly affect learning in mice. Guest lecture for “Seminar in Neuroscience”, University of Guelph.
28. Choleris E, Phan A, Lymer J, Gabor CS, Ervin SJK (2013). Estrogens and mouse cognition. Department of Psychology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
29. Choleris E, Phan A, Ervin K, Lymer J, Gabor CS (2013). Estrogens involvement in mice social and non-social learning. Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, ON, Canada.
30. Choleris E, Ervin K, Phan A, Gabor CS (2013). Estrogenic involvement in social cognition in mice. “Evolution, Ecology, and Behaviour” group at Biology Department, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
31. Choleris E, Phan A, Ervin K, Gabor CS (2013). Roles for ER-beta in brain with respect to social behaviors. Symposium ‘ERbeta in cell proliferation and differentiation’. 2013 Endocrine Society Meeting. San Francisco, CA, USA.
32. Phan A, Ervin K, Gabor CS Choleris E (2013). Rapid estrogenic regulation of social and non-social learning. 7th International Meeting “Steroids and Nervous System”, Turin, Italy, abstract p. 57.
33. Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2012). Neuropeptide/Steroidal Interactions and the Avoidance of Pathogen Threat: Implications for Disgust. The Evolution of Disgust: From Oral to Moral. ZiF Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Bielefeld, Germany.
34. Choleris E, Clipperton-Allen AE, Phan A (2011). Estrogenic Involvement in Social Recognition and Social Learning. International Behavioral and Neural Genetics Society, Symposium on Social learning of one-other's emotional state in mice and people: neural and neurochemical mediation, Rome, Italy.
35. Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2011). Social Learning of Fear to Natural Threats: An Oxytocin – Estrogen Interplay. International Behavioral and Neural Genetics Society, Symposium on Social learning of one-other's emotional state in mice and people: neural and neurochemical mediation, Rome, Italy.
36. Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2011). Odors, parasites and mate responses. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society, Symposium on Sex, Fear and Pheromones: Biology of Semiochemicals in Rodents, Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA
37. Choleris E, Phan A, Clipperton-Allen AE (2011). Neuroendocrinology of Social Information Processing in Mice. Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
38. Phan A, Choleris E (2010): Neurobiology of Social Recognition in Rodents. Department of Experimental Biology, Neuroscience Section, University of Cagliari, Italy.
39. Clipperton-Allen AE, Choleris E (2010): Neurobiology of Social Learning in Rodents. Department of Experimental Biology, Neuroscience Section, University of Cagliari, Italy.
40. Choleris E, Clipperton-Allen AE, Phan A (2009). Neurobiology of Social Information Processing in Rodents. IBRO Associate School Program, Penang, Malaysia.
41. Kavaliers M, Choleris E (2009). Neurobiology of Social Recognition and Parasite Avoidance. In: Vertebrate models of social behavior: neurobiological and comparative perspectives, IBNS Conference, Nassau, Bahamas.
42. Choleris E, Kavaliers M, Clipperton AE, Pfaff DW (2007). Estrogen Receptor Genes and their Involvement in Social Behaviors. Advances in Neurobiology Conference, Napoli, Italy.
43. Choleris E (2005). Neurobiology of Social Recognition in Mice. Department of Psychology, University of Tromsø, Norway.
44. Choleris E (2005). How and why animals learn from each other: neurobiological analysis. In Animal Behavior and Welfare Seminar Series. Department of Animal & Poultry Science, University of Guelph.
45. Choleris E & Pfaff DW (2004). Genes for estrogen receptors in CNS, controlling behavior: 7 Lessons and 1 Theory. Nobel Symposium on Sex Differences, Stockholm.
46. Kavaliers M & Choleris E (2004). Evolutionary and Comparative Aspects of Predator Detection and Avoidance. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society, Satellite Meeting “Defensive Behaviors”.
47. Kavaliers M & Choleris E (2004). Functional Genomics and the Recognition of Parasitized Individuals. Plenary address, Canadian Society of Zoologists Conference.
48. Ogawa S, Choleris E & Pfaff DW (2004). Genetic influences on aggressive behaviors in animals. Plenary lecture at the conference: Scientific Approaches to Youth Violence Prevention, New York Academy of Sciences.
49. Pfaff DW, Choleris E & Ogawa S (2004). Genes for sex hormone receptors controlling mouse aggression. Novartis Symposium on Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Aggression, London, UK.
50. Choleris E, Ragnauth A, Kow LM & Pfaff DW (2003) Functional Genomics of Oxytocin in the Mouse Brain. Plenary Lecture, at the conferences on Neurohypophyseal Peptides. Kyoto, Japan.
51. Choleris E (2003). Knockout of oxytocin and estrogen receptors a and b genes impairs social recognition in female mice. New York Academy of Sciences, Tri-Institutional Endocrinology Science Day.
52. Choleris E, Mong JA, Pfaff DW (2002). Measurements and Manipulation of Transcripts and their function in neuroendocrine systems. In: NICHHD/NIH expert symposium on “Emerging Technologies in Neuralbiology”, Bethesda, Maryland.
53. Choleris E (2002). Social Learning in Rodents: Behavioral and Pharmacological Analysis Neuropsychology & Learning Processes Colloquium, City University of New York.
54. Ogawa S, Choleris E, Nomura M, Pfaff DW (2002). Genes influencing social behaviors in the service of reproduction. In: Genes and Social Behavior, Symposium of the 32nd meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Orlando, Florida.
55. Choleris E, Thomas AW & Prato FS (1999). An ethological analysis of the effects of two benzodiazepine anxiolytics and a 100 mT pulsed magnetic field on male CF1 mice’s open field. 11th Sister Mary Doyle Research Day, Lawson Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
56. Choleris E (1999). Ethopharmacological Analysis of the Open Field Test as a Measure of Anxiety. In: Measuring Anxiety in Animal models, Accuscan Annual Symposium of the 29th meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Miami Beach, Florida.
57. Choleris E (1998). Social learning of food preferences in gerbils: an ethopharmacological analysis. Department of Psychology. University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
58. Choleris E, Thomas AW & Prato FS (1998) A study on the effects of a 100 mT specific pulsed magnetic field on anxiety-like behaviors in male CF1 mice (Mus domesticus). 10th Sister Mary Doyle Research Day, Lawson Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
59. Choleris E, Valsecchi P, & Mainardi M (1997). Ethopharmacological analysis of social learning: anxiolytics and social transmission of food preference in gerbils. International Conference Psychoparmacology: Preclinical and clinical models in Psychoparmacology, Meribel, France, 1997.
60. Choleris E (1997). Social learning in gerbils. Psychology 501 Animal Cognition Research Group, Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
61. Choleris E (1995). Ontogenesis of diet selection in animals. The Changsha Institute of Agricultural Modernization, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, Hunan, The People’s Republic of China.

Recent Conference Abstracts

1. Paletta P, Dhuga G, Watson E, Choleris E (2021). Interaction between estrogen and oxytocin receptors on social recognition. Virtual International Meeting “Steroids and Nervous System”, Torino, Italy.
2. Bass N, Hickey M, Van Den Berghe S, Choleris E (2021). Estrogenic regulation of dorsal hippocampal D2-type dopamine facilitated social learning in male mice. Society for Social Neuroscience 2020 Conference, on line and delayed by the pandemic. P11.
3. Paletta P, Dhuga G, Watson, Choleris E (2021). University of Guelph. Interplay between estrogen and oxytocin receptors on rapid social recognition. Society for Social Neuroscience 2020 Conference, on line and delayed by the pandemic. P41.
4. Aspesi D, Brill ZR, Guillaume G, Choleris E (2021). University of Guelph. Testosterone in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis rapidly modulates pro-social and pro-aggressive behaviours in male mice. Society for Social Neuroscience 2020 Conference, on line and delayed by the pandemic. P56.
5. Paletta P, Grewal I, Clarke A, Choleris E (2020). Interplay Between Estrogen and Oxytocin Receptors in the Rapid Mediation of Social Recognition. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society, Online Poster Sessions. August 2020.
6. Bass N, Hickey M, Choleris E (2020). Specific steroid hormone involvement in dorsal hippocampal D2-type dopamine receptor mediated social learning. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society Abstracts, Online Poster Sessions. August 2020.
7. Aspesi D, Choleris E (2020) Androgens-Vasopressin intercommunication: a key interaction for social recognition in male mice. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society Abstracts, Online Poster Sessions. August 2020.
8. Rizwan Y, Lalonde J, Choleris E (2020). Activity-Regulated Cytoskeleton-Associated Protein (Arc) as a Possible Mediator of Estrogen-Facilitated Short-Term Memory. Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Virtual Forum, July 2020. Poster 458.
9. Martin ER, Wilson H, Dhuga G, MacLusky NJ, Choleris E (2020). Effects of Prenatal Dexamethasone on Hippocampal Development. Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Virtual Forum, July 2020. Poster 498
10. Aspesi D, Choleris E (2020). Androgens-Vasopressin: a key interaction for social recognition in male mice. Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Virtual Forum, July 2020. Poster 1204.
11. Bass N, Hickey M, Choleris E (2020). The effects of sex hormones on dorsal hippocampal dopamine D2 receptor mediation of social learning in male mice. Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Virtual Forum, July 2020. Poster 1206.
12. Paletta P, Grewal I, Clarke A, Choleris E (2020). Interplay between estrogen and oxytocin receptors in the rapid mediation of social recognition. Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Virtual Forum, July 2020. Poster 1209
13. Paletta P, Grewal I, Clarke A, Choleris E (2019). The interplay of the rapid activation of the G-protein coupled estrogen receptor and/or estrogen receptor beta and the oxytocin receptor on social recognition. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 586.03.
14. Rizwan Y, Lalonde J, Choleris E (2019). 17β-estradiol rapidly induces activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (arc) expression. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 586.08.
15. Bass N, Crasto S, Crawford C, Choleris E (2019). Sex difference in the way dorsal hippocampal D2-type dopamine receptors interact with gonadal sex hormones to mediate social learning in mice. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 785.13.
16. Martin ER, Wilson HA, MacLusky NJ, Choleris E (2019). The effects of prenatal testosterone on stress system development. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 767.04.
17. Bass N, Anthonypillai J, Crasto S, Crawford C, Choleris E (2019). The interaction between sex hormones and D2-type dopamine receptors in the dorsal hippocampus in the mediation of social learning in male and female mice. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society Abstracts, P2: 21.
18. Paletta P, Lin J, Kachmarchuk OZ, Choleris E (2019). Mediation of Social Recognition by Estrogen Receptor Beta and/or G-Protein Coupled Estrogen Receptor in the Paraventricular Nucleus. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society Abstracts, P2: 25.
19. Kavaliers M. Bishnoi I. Ossenkopp KP, Choleris, E (2019). Progesterone affects pathogen elicited disgust. International Behavioral Neuroscience Society Abstracts, P2: 39.
20. Kachmarchuk OZ, Paletta P, Choleris E (2019). Activating ERb in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in female mice facilitates social recognition. Southern Ontario Neuroscience Association Abstracts, P53.
21. Rizwan Y, Choleris E, Lalonde J. Activity-Regulated Cytoskeleton-associated protein(Arc) is rapidly induced by 17b-Estradiol in the dorsal hippocampus and in primary cortical cells. Southern Ontario Neuroscience Association Abstracts, P63.
22. Paletta P, Kachmarchuck OZ, Choleris E (2019). Social Recognition is Mediated by the G-Protein Coupled Estrogen Receptor in the Paraventricular Nucleus. Southern Ontario Neuroscience Association Abstracts, P60.
23. Bass N, Crasto S, Crawford C, Choleris E (2019). The Interplay between D2-type Dopamine Receptors in the Dorsal Hippocampus and Gonadal Sex Hormones in the Modulation of Social Learning in Male and Female Mice. Southern Ontario Neuroscience Association Abstracts, P37.
24. Wilson HA, Martin ER, Choleris E, MacLusky NJ (2019). Early prenatal testosterone reduces HPA axis responsiveness in CD1 male mice. Southern Ontario Neuroscience Association Abstracts, P77.
25. Martin ER, Choleris E, MacLusky NJ (2019). The effects of prenatal dexamethasone treatment on hippocampal stress sensitivity. Southern Ontario Neuroscience Association Abstracts, P79.

Graduate Student Supervision

Current (2024) PhD students

• Kelsy Ervin, MSc
• Pietro Paletta, MSc

Current (2024) MSc students

• Anjana Varatharajah
• Samantha McGuinness
• Charlotte Larochelle-Compton

Past graduate students

• Amy Clipperton-Allen, MA in 2007 and PhD in 2011
• Anna Phan, MSc in 2008 and PhD in 2013
• Jennifer Lymer, PhD in 2015
• Richard Matta, MSc in 2014 and PhD in 2018
• Paul Sheppard, PhD in 2018
• Noah Bass, MSc in 2019 and PhD in 2023
• Dario Aspesi, PhD in 2023
• Darryl Bannon, MA in 2009
• Christopher Gabor, MSc in 2013
• Daniel Palmer, MSc in 2013
• Colin Howes, MSc in 2016
• Cameron Wasson, MSc in 2017
• Theresa Martin, MSc in 2018
• Talya Kuun, MSc in 2021
• Emily Martin, MSc in 2021
• Yamna Rizwan, MSc in 2021
• Oksana Kachmarchuk, MSc in 2021
• Christine Sexton, MSc in 2022
• Siyao Peng, MSc in 2023
• Kathleen Ladouceur, MSc in 2024
• Dante Cantini, MSc in 2024

Past Post Doctoral Fellows

• Riccardo Dore, Ph.D., 2010-2011
• Caitlin O'Flynn, Ph.D., 2016

Past Lab Technicians

• Marian Castro-Labrada, MSc, 2015
• Michael Marcotte, MSc, 2016-2017