Behavioral Neuroscience

Jennifer Helfer

		Graduate Student  -  Primary Advisor: Research Interests Recent Publications Vita Office: Lab: Preferred contact method - email

Research Interests

Research Summary:

Currently my research focuses on the cellular plasticity in the normal/healthy vs. damaged nervous system. I work with an animal model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders to examine the effects of alcohol exposure on the developing brain.

Major Questions

• Is adult hippocampal dentate gyrus cell proliferation and/or neurogenesis altered after neonatal alcohol exposure?
• Is glial genesis in the dentate gyrus influenced by neonatal alcohol exposure?
• Is the expression of the immediate early genes altered by developmental alcohol exposure in both pre-existing and newly generated adult neurons in the dentate gyrus?
• Can behavioral intervention (exercise) ameliorate the structural damage caused by developmental alcohol exposure?
• How stable is the exercise induced morphological enhancement?

Recent Publications

Klintsova, A.Y., Helfer, J.L., Calizo, L.H., Dong, W.K., Goodlett, C.R., Greenough, W.T. (2007). Persistent impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis in young adult rats following early postnatal alcohol exposure. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 31 (12), 2073-82.

Abstracts

Helfer, J.L., Goodlett, C.R., Greenough, W.T., Klintsova, A.Y. (November 2007).Voluntary exercise increase adult hippocampal neurogenesis in postweaning rats exposed to alcohol during the brain growth spurt. SFN. San Diego California.

Helfer, J.L., Goodlett, C.R., Greenough, W.T., Klintsova, A.Y. (July 2007).Voluntary exercise increase adult hippocampal neurogenesis in postweaning rats exposed to alcohol during the third trimester equivalent. RSA. Chicago Illinois.

Helfer, J.L., Calizo, L.H., Whitcher, L.T., Dong, W.K., Goodlett, C.R., Greenough, W.T., Klintsova, A.Y. (September 2006). Twelve hour voluntary exercise in postweaning rats exposed to alcohol during the third trimester equivalent does not alter adult hippocampal neurogenesis. ISBRA. Sydney Australia.

Calizo, L.H., Helfer, J.L., Dong, W.K., Goodlett, C.R., Greenough, W.T., Klintsova, A.Y. (September 2006). The effect of voluntary exercise on adult rat motor cortex cytogenesis after alcohol exposure during the third trimester equivalent. ISBRA. Sydney Australia.

Helfer, J.L., Calizo, L.H., Dong, W.K., Goodlett, C.R., Greenough, W.T., Klintsova, A.Y. (June 2006). Postweaning wheel running effect on cytogenesis in adult rat motor cortex after neonatal alcohol exposure. RSA. Baltimore Maryland.

Klintsova, A.Y., Dong, W.K., Calizo, L.H., Helfer, J.L., Goodlett, C.R., Greenough, W.T. (June 2006). Persistent impairment of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in rats exposed to alcohol during the third trimester equivalent. RSA. Baltimore Maryland.

Helfer, J.L., and Manock, J. (April 2005). Measuring the behavioral effects of zebra fish (Danio Rerio) exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Carolinas' Regional Meeting. Raleigh North Carolina.

Press Book/Conference

Helfer, J.L., Goodlett, C.R., Greenough, W.T., Klintsova, A.Y. (November 2007). Voluntary exercise increase adult hippocampal neurogenesis in postweaning rats exposed to alcohol during the brain growth spurt. SFN. San Diego California.

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