Ann Jane Tierney

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atierney

Ann Jane Tierney

Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience

Department/Office Information

Psychological and Brain Sciences, Neuroscience
204 Olin Hall
  • M 3:00pm - 5:00pm (116 Wynn)
  • R 4:15pm - 5:15pm (116 Wynn)

Contact

(315) 228-7360

I'm a neuroscientist interested in how neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine modulate animal behavior. Experiments in my lab have examined how serotonin affects aggressive and anxiety-like behavior in several crayfish species, and which serotonin receptor subtypes mediate observed effects.  Additional studies focus on feeding behavior, mechanisms of spatial learning, and the effects of pharmaceutical pollution on crayfish behavior and life history.  I also use immunocytochemical techniques to determine the distribution of monoamines and neuropeptides in the crayfish nervous system.

Colgate undergraduate students play an integral role in my research program and many of my publications have student co-authors. In the publication list below, each student co-author is identified by an asterisk (*).

My additional interests include comparative and evolutionary neuroscience, and the history of neurochemical theories of mental illness. 

I received my undergraduate training at Cornell University, received my Ph.D at the University of Toronto, and conducted postdoctoral research at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole and at Cornell University.

My teaching duties allow me to explore fascinating topics in both neuroscience and psychology. Courses that I regularly teach include Introduction to Neuroscience, Fundamentals of Neurophysiology, Neuroethology, Health Psychology, and a Scientific Perspectives course called Mind, Body, and Health.

BA, Cornell University; PhD, University of Toronto

Neurophysiology, neuroethology, physiology of neural circuits in invertebrates, neurobiological theories of mental illness, evolution of nervous systems and cognition

*Colgate undergraduate co-author

Tierney, A.J., E. Velazquez*, L. Johnson*, S. Hiranandani*, M. Pauly* and M. Souvignier*.  2023.  Nutritional and reproductive status affect amino acid appetite in house crickets (Acheta domesticus).  Front. Insect Sci. 3:1120413. https://doi.org/10.3389/finsc.2023.1120413

Tierney, A. J., M. Haller*, L. Grossman*, H. Grote.*, and N. Marcus-Bauer* 2022. Serotonergic modulation of appetitive and ingestive behavior in crayfish. Behavioral Neuroscience. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/bne0000514

Tierney, A.J. 2020. Feeding, hunger, satiety, and serotonin in invertebrates. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 287: 20201388 https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.1386

Tierney, A.J., I. MacKillop*, T. Rosenbloom*, and A. Werner*. 2020.  Post-feeding behavior in crayfish (Procambarus clarkii): Description of an invertebrate behavioral satiety sequence. Physiology & Behavior 213: 112720, 2-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112720

Tierney, A.J. 2018. Invertebrate serotonin receptors: a molecular perspective on classification and pharmacology. Journal of Experimental Biology 221: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.184838   

Tierney, A.J., A.Baker*, J. Forward*, C. Slight*, and H. Yilma*.  2018.  Response and place learning in crayfish spatial learning.  Learning & Behavior 46:  https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-018-0345-y

Tierney, A.J., K.N. Hanzlik*, R.M. Hathaway*, C. Powers* and M. Roy*.  2015. Effects of fluoxetine on growth and behavior in the crayfish Orconectes rusticus.  Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology, 49, DOI:10.1080/10236244.2015.1119974

Tierney, A.J., K. Andrews*, K.R. Happer* and M.K.M. White*. 2013. Dear enemies and nasty neighbors in crayfish: Effects of social status and sex on responses to familiar and unfamiliar conspecifics. Behavioral Processes 99:47-51.

Tierney, A.J. and K. Andrews*. 2013. Spatial behavior in male and female crayfish (Orconectes rusticus): learning strategies and memory duration. Animal Cognition 16:23-34.

Tierney, A.J. and J. Lee*. 2011. Spatial learning in a T-maze by the crayfish Orconectes rusticus. Journal of Comparative Psychology 125: 31-39.

Tierney, A.J. 2009. Differential growth in body and chela size following molts to Form I and Form II in the crayfish Orconectes rusticus. Crustaceana 82:1527-1533.

Tierney, A.J., C. Gunaratne*, K. Jennison*, V, Monroy*, and L. Donnelly*. 2008. Behavioral correlates of alternate male forms (Form I and Form II) in the crayfish Orconectes rusticus. Journal of Crustacean Biology 28: 596-600.

Tierney, A.J., M.A. Greenlaw*, K. Dams-O'Connor*, S.D. Aig*, and A.M. Perna*. 2004. Behavioral effects of serotonin and serotonin agonists in two crayfish species, Procambarus clarkii and Orconectes rusticus. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A139: 495-502.

Tierney, A.J., T. Kim* and R. Abrams*. 2003. Dopamine in crayfish and other crustaceans: distribution in the central nervous system and physiological functions. Microscopy Research and Technique 60: 325-335.

Tierney, A.J. 2001. Structure and function of invertebrate 5-HT receptors: a review. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A 128: 791-804.
 

Tierney, A.J. and L.A. Mangiamele*. 2001. Effects of serotonin and serotonin analogs on posture and agonistic behavior in crayfish. Journal of Comparative Physiology A 187:757-767.

Tierney, A.J. 2000. Egas Moniz and the origins of psychosurgery: A review commemorating the 50th anniversary of Moniz's Nobel Prize. Journal of the History of the Neurosciences 9: 22-36.

Tierney, A.J., M.S. Godleski* and J. Massanari*. 2000. A quantitative analysis of agonistic behavior in four crayfish species (Decapoda; Cambaridae, Astacidae). Journal of Crustacean Biology 20: 54-66.

Tierney, A.J., M. S. Godleski* and P. Rattananont*. 1999. Serotonin-like immunoreactivity in the stomatogastric nervous systems of crayfishes from four genera. Cell and Tissue Research 295: 537-551.

Harris-Warrick, R. M., A. Ayali, D. J. Baro, B. R. Johnson, M. Kim, P.Kloppenburg, J. H. Peck and A. J. Tierney. 1998. Potassium channels, amines and the control of a small neural network. In: N. Elsner, ed., New Neuroethology on the Move: Proceedings of the 26th Gottingen Neurobiology Conference, Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, pp. 87-104.

Tierney, A.J., J.K. Blanck*, and A.J. Mercier. 1997. FMRFamide-like peptides in the crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) stomatogastric nervous system: distribution and effects on the pyloric motor pattern. Journal of Experimental Biology 200:3221-3233.

Tierney, A.J. 1996. Evolutionary implications of neural circuit structure and function. Behavioural Processes 35:173-182.

Tierney, A. J. and R.M. Harris-Warrick. 1992. Physiological role of the transient potassium current in the pyloric circuit of the lobster stomatogastric ganglion. Journal of Neurophysiology 67:599-609.

Tierney, A.J., R. Voigt and J. Atema. 1988. Response properties of chemoreceptors from the medial antennular filament of the lobster Homarus americanus. Biological Bulletin 174:364-372.

Tierney, A.J. and J. Atema. 1988. Amino acid chemoreception: effects of pH on receptors and stimuli. Journal of Chemical Ecology 14:135-141.

Tierney, A.J. and J. Atema. 1988. Behavioral responses of crayfishes (Orconectes virilis and Orconectes rusticus) to chemical feeding stimuli. Journal of Chemical Ecology 14:123-133.

Tierney, A.J. and J. Atema. 1987. Effects of short-term exposure to lowered pH on the behavioral response of crayfishes (Procambarus acutus and Orconectes virilis) to chemical stimuli. In: J. Atema and S. Roper (eds.), Olfaction and Taste IX, N.Y. Acad. Sci., pp. 655-657.

Tierney, A.J. and J. Atema. 1986. Effects of acidification on the behavioral responses of crayfishes (Orconectes virilis and Procambarus acutus) to chemical feeding stimuli. Aquatic Toxicology 9:1-11.

Tierney, A.J. 1986. The evolution of learned and innate behavior: contributions from genetics and neurobiology to a theory of behavioral evolution. Animal Learning and Behavior 14:339-348.
Dunham, D.W., A.J. Tierney and P. Franks. 1986. Response to mirrors by a cryptic hermit crab, Pagurus marshi. Biotropica 18:270-271.

Tierney, A.J., C.S. Thompson and D.W. Dunham. 1986. Fine structure of aesthetasc chemoreceptors in the crayfish Orconectes propinquus. Canadian Journal of Zoology 64:392-402.

Tierney, A.J., C.S. Thompson and D.W. Dunham. 1984. Site of pheromone reception in the crayfish Orconectes propinquus (Decapoda, Cambaridae). Journal of Crustacean Biology 4:554-559.

Tierney, A.J. and D.W. Dunham. 1984. Behavioral mechanisms of reproductive isolation in crayfishes of the genus Orconectes. American Midland Naturalist 111:304-310.

Collins, N.C., H.H. Harvey, A.J. Tierney and D.W. Dunham. 1983. The influence of predator density on trapability of crayfish in Ontario lakes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 40:1820-1828.

Dunham, D.W. and A.J. Tierney. 1983. The communicative cost of crypsis in a hermit crab (Pagurus marshi). Animal Behaviour 31:783-787.

Tierney, A.J. and D.W. Dunham. 1982. Chemical communication in the reproductive isolation of the crayfishes Orconectes propinquus and Orconectes virilis (Decapoda, Cambaridae). Journal of Crustacean Biology 2:544-548.

Tierney, A.J. 1981. Individual variation and taxonomic significance of the seminal receptacle of the crayfish Orconectes propinquus (Girard) (Decapoda, Cambaridae). Crustaceana 43:284-296.


Presentations at national conferences with Colgate undergraduates (*Colgate Undergraduate Coauthor)

Tierney, A.J., M. Dinsmore*, J. Falotico*, B. Lacy*, and M. Shelley*.  2017.  Effects of social stress and serotonin receptor agonists on arousal and anxiety-like behavior in crayfish.  Presented at the annual meeting of the Animal Behavior Society, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, June 12-16, 2016.

Tierney, A.J., J.A. Forward*, and C.J. Slight*.  2015.  Performance of crayfish using egocentric and allocentric spatial learning strategies.  Presented at the annual meeting of the Animal Behavior Society, Anchorage. AK, June 10-15, 2015.

Tierney, A.J., C. Powers*, and M. Roy*.  2015.  Effects of ambient fluoxetine on behavior and growth in the crayfish Orconectes rusticus.  Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, West Palm Beach, FL, Jan. 3-7, 2015.

Tierney, A.J., M. Roy*, and C. Powers*.  2014.  Spatial behavior in crayfish: Response versus place learning.  Presented at the annual meeting of the Animal Behavior Society, Princeton, NJ, August 9-14, 2014.

A.J. Tierney, K.K. Ingram, E. Sholl*, M. Richards*, K. Andrews*, and M. White*. 2013. Gene expression of a serotonin receptor following aggressive behavior in the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, Nov. 9-13, 2013.

White*, M., K. Andrews*, A.J. Tierney. 2013. Dear enemies and nasty neighbors in the crayfish Procambarus clarkii. Program No. 3.18, Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, San Francisco, CA, Jan. 3-7, 2013.

Tierney, A.J., K. Hennegan* and K. Andrews*. 2011. Spatial learning in crayfish: Cue salience and serotonergic modulation. Program No. 298.28. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC, Nov. 12-16, 2011.

Tierney, A.J., J. Lee* and A.N. Byrne*. 2010. Spatial behavior and learning in the crayfish Orconectes rusticus. Program No. 408.7. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, Nov. 13-17, 2010

Tierney, A.J., C. Gunaratne*, V. Monroy*, and L. Donnelly*. 2007. Effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan and tryptophan administration on behavior and serotonin immunoreactivity in crayfish. Program No. 3.83. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Phoenix, AZ.

Tierney, A.J., C. Gunaratne*, and K. Jennison*. 2005. Behavioral correlates of alternative male forms (Form I and Form II) in adult crayfish. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Integrative and Comparative Biology 45: 1202.

Tierney, A.J. and A.M. Donovan*. 2005. Localization of dopamine-containing somata and axonal projection pathways in the crayfish nervous system. Program No. 30.14. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC, Nov. 12-16, 2005.

Tierney, A.J., S. Aig*, and A. Perna*. 2004. Serotonin and behavior in two crayfish species, Procambarus clarkii and Orconectes rusticus: effects of 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 agonists. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, New Orleans, LA, Jan. 5-9, 2004.

Tierney, A.J., M.A. Greenlaw*, and K. Dams-O'Connor*. 2002. Posture, aggression and motor behavior in crayfish: effects of serotonin analogs. Program No. 90.4. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Orlando, FL, Nov. 2-7, 2002.

Tierney, A.J., L.A. Mangiamele*, J.K. Blanck*, S.F. Moll*, and J.A. Thysen*. 2000. Effects of serotonin receptor agonists on posture and aggressive behavior in crayfish. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, LA, Nov. 4-9, 2000.

Tierney, A.J., P. Rattananont*, and R. Abrams*. 1998. Distribution of serotonin and dopamine immunoreactivity in the stomatogastric nervous systems of crayfishes from four genera. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Los Angeles, CA, Nov. 7-12, 1998.

Tierney, A.J., M.S. Godleski*, and C.J. Nwokeji*. 1998. A quantitative analysis of aggressive behavior in different crayfish species. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Boston, MA, Jan. 3-7, 1998.

Tierney, A.J., J.K. Blanck*, and A.J. Mercier. 1996. Modulatory effects of FMRFamide-like peptides and distribution of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity in the crayfish stomatogastric nervous system. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC, Nov. 16-21, 1996.

Tierney, A.J., K. Jones*, and A.J. Mercier. 1995. Location and modulatory activity of FMRFamide-like peptides in the crayfish stomatogastric nervous system. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology, Washington, DC, Dec. 26-30, 1995.

Postdoctoral fellow, Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, 1987-93; postdoctoral fellow, Boston University Marine Biology Program, 1985-87

  • National Science Foundation Research Planning Grant 1997
  • National Science Foundation Instrumentation and Laboratory Improvement Grant 1995
  • National Research Service Award Renewal (one-year postdoctoral fellowship from the National Institutes of Health) 1989
  • National Research Service Award (two-year postdoctoral fellowship from the National Institutes of Health) 1987
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (two-year postdoctoral fellowship) 1985
  • Life Sciences Committee Award, University of Toronto 1984
  • Ramsay Wright Scholarship, University of Toronto 1984
  • Ontario Graduate Scholarship 1983
  • Pure and Applied Scientific Research Fund Award, Toronto 1982, 1983, 1984
  • University of Toronto Open Fellowship 1980