Prof Karen Spencer

Director of Research

Professor

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2096
Email: kas21@st-andrews.ac.uk

Research areas

I am currently the Co-Director of the Institute of Behavioural and Neural Sciences (https://ibans.st-andrews.ac.uk).

I am interested in using multi-disciplinary approaches to gain a greater understanding of the mechanisms that underlie complex patterns of animal behaviour. Currently this involves integrating behavioural, physiological, endocrine and neuroendocrine approaches using avian species in both the field and laboratory. I currently head up the Mechanisms of Behaviour Research Group - check out our website for more info:

https://www.moblabgroup.com/

PhD supervision

Wallace Dempster
Sarah Suber
Laura Kamp
Sezny Gall
Charis Hanna
Valentina Sulleyman

Selected publications

Open access

Maternal developmental history alters transfer of circadian clock genes to offspring in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica)
Harvey-Carroll, J.-L., Stevenson, T. J. & Spencer, K. A., May 2024, In: Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology. 210, p. 399–413 15 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open access

Pre-natal exposure to glucocorticoids causes changes in developmental circadian clock gene expression and post-natal behaviour in the Japanese quail
Harvey-Carroll, J., Stevenson, T. J., Bussière, L. F. & Spencer, K. A., Jul 2024, In: Hormones and Behavior. 163, 14 p., 105562.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open access

Light-induced asymmetries in embryonic retinal gene expression are mediated by the vascular system and extracellular matrix
Versace, E., Sgadò, P., George, J., Loveland, J. L., Ward, J., Thorpe, P., Jensen, L. J., Spencer, K. A., Paracchini, S. & Vallortigara, G., 15 Jul 2022, In: Scientific Reports. 12, 12 p., 12086.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open access

Acute social isolation alters neurogenomic state in songbird forebrain
George, J., Bell, Z., Condliffe, D., Doher, K., Abaurrea, T., Spencer, K., Leitao, A., Gahr, M., Hurd, P. & Clayton, D. F., 22 Sept 2020, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 117, 38, p. 23311-23316
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open access

Early-life adversity programs long-term cytokine and microglia expression within the HPA axis in female Japanese quail
Walker, D. J., Zimmer, C., Larriva Hormigos, M., Healy, S. D. & Spencer, K. A., 27 Feb 2019, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Experimental Biology. 222, 11 p., jeb187039.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open access

Social experience during adolescence in female rats increases 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in adulthood, without affecting anxiety-like behavior
Emmerson, M. G., Spencer, K. A. & Brown, G. R., 19 Aug 2019, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Developmental Psychobiology. Early View
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open access

Chronological age, biological age, and individual variation in the stress response in the European starling: a follow-up study
Gott, A., Andrews, C., Hormigos, M. L., Spencer, K., Bateson, M. & Nettle, D., 23 Oct 2018, In: PeerJ. 6, 19 p., 5842.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Developmental Programming via Activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis: A New Role for Acoustic Stimuli in Shaping Behavior?
Spencer, K. A. & Minderman, J., 2018, ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR, VOL 50. Naguib, M., Barrett, L., Healy, S., Podos, J., Simmons, L. & Zuk, M. (eds.). Academic Press/Elsevier , p. 87-+ 12 p. (Advances in the Study of Behavior; vol. 50).
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Open access

Glucocorticoid programming of neuroimmune function
Walker, D. J. & Spencer, K. A., 15 Jan 2018, In: General and Comparative Endocrinology. 256, p. 80-88 9 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open access

Group housing during adolescence has long-term effects on the adult stress response in female, but not male, zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata)
Emmerson, M. G. & Spencer, K. A., 15 Jan 2018, In: General and Comparative Endocrinology. 256, p. 71-79 9 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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