Prof Karen Spencer

Professor

Researcher profile

Phone

+44 (0)1334 46 3594

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:

PhD supervision

• Benjamin Turnbull
• Laura Kamp
• Sezny Gall
• Valentina Sulleyman

Selected publications

• 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 Sep 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, SD., Podos, J., Simmons, LW. & Zuk, M. (eds.). Academic Press Inc., 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

• Open access

  Stress hormones, social associations and song learning in zebra finches

  Boogert, N. J., Lachlan, R. F., Spencer, K. A., Templeton, C. N. & Farine, D. R., 26 Sep 2018, In: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. B, Biological Sciences. 373, 1756, 9 p., 20170290.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

• Open access

  A marker of biological age explains individual variation in the strength of the adult stress response

  Andrews, C., Nettle, D., Larriva, M., Gillespie, R., Reichert, S., Brilot, B. O., Bedford, T., Monaghan, P., Spencer, K. A. & Bateson, M., 27 Sep 2017, In: Royal Society Open Science. 4, 9, 13 p., 171208.

  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

 

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