Research group Behavioral Physiology

The research of the Behavioral Physiology group involves the physiological mechanisms underlying social behavior and stress. Using rats and mice, the studies range from the behavioral and physiological analysis of social structures in groups of animals to the analysis of the neurobiological substrate of aggression and social stress and the development of violence. Specific attention is paid to the analysis of individual differences in behavior and physiology and its role in the development of violence and stress pathology.

Research topics include:

• The neurobiology underlying individual differences in aggression and the development of violence.
• Long-term behavioral, physiological and neurobiological consequences of social stress.

• Stress, coping and animal welfare.

• Modulating function of sleep in stress and coping.
• Developmental factors of adult stress vulnerability.

Specific techniques:

• behavioral analysis
• biotelemetry (heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure)

• behavioral pharmacology

• blood sampling using chronic cannulation of blood vessels
• micro infusions in specific brain structures
• immunocytochemistry