Dr.
Fidelma A. O'Leary
Office: JBWN 129
Phone: 512-416-5893
E-mail: fidelmao@stedwards.edu
Education
- Ph.D. (Neuroscience), Graduate School of Biomedical
Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center,
Houston
- B.E. (Engineering), U.C.C., National University
of Ireland
Research Interests
My research interests focus on the neurobiology of learning, particularly
on the cellular mechanisms underlying the acquisition and retrieval of
memories. I am also interested in the effects of psychological and environmental
stress on memory acquisition and retrieval. Students conducting research
in my lab have the opportunity to learn the techniques of behavioral, cellular
and molecular biology. Research projects are divided into modules which
can be completed in a semester. Students have the option of extending the
project for additional credit. It is anticipated that students successfully
completing their research will present their work at a regional scientific
meeting and submit a paper for publication.
Teaching Interests
I teach Physiology, Anatomy and an upper level Neuroscience elective. These
classes all have labs. I teach Research Methods, a rigorous methodology and
science writing class. In addition I am involved in teaching Freshman Biology,
both lectures and labs, and I supervise Undergraduate Research.
Publications
Refereed Articles and Abstracts
D.S. de Jesus, F.A. O'Leary, Environmental Stress Interferes with the Acquisition
of Short-term Memory for Sensitization in Aplysia Californica. 103rd Annual
Meeting of the Texas Academy of Science, 14, 1999
O'Leary, F.A., and Anjelides, K.J., Disruption of one cell adhesion signal
is sufficient to hinder axonal navigation in developing visual cortex. Society
for Neuroscience Abstracts, 20: 1063, 1995
Fidelma A. O'Leary, John H. Byrne, Leonard J. Cleary, Long-term structural
remodeling of Aplysia sensory neurons requires de novo protein synthesis during
a critical time period. Journal of Neuroscience, 1995.
Fidelma A O''Leary, John H. Byrne, Leonard J. Cleary, Time-Window for requirement
of Protein Synthesis during Structural Remodeling of Sensory Neurons in Aplysia.
Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 18: 813, 1993
Fidelma A O''Leary, John H. Byrne, Leonard J. Cleary, Delayed application of
anisomycin blocks long-term (24 hour) cAMP-induced morphological changes in
pleural sensory neurons of Aplysia. Society for Neuroscience Abstracts, 17:
1715, 1992
Fidelma A. Nazif, John H. Byrne and Leonard J. Cleary, cAMP induces long-term
morphological changes in sensory neurons of Aplysia. Brain Research, 539: 324-327,
1991.
Cleary, L.J., Baxter, D.A., Nazif, F.A. and Byrne, J.H. Neural Mechanisms underlying
sensitization of a defensive withdrawal reflex in Aplysia. Biological Bulletin,
180: 252-261, 1991
Byrne J.H., Baxter, D.A, Buonomano, D.V., Cleary, L.J., Eskin, A., Goldsmith,
J.R., McClendon, E., Nazif, F.A., Noel, F., and Scholtz, K.P. Neural and Molecular
bases of nonassociative and associative learning in Aplysia. Annals of the
New York Academy of Sciences, 627, 124-149, 1991.
Book Chapters:
Fidelma A. Nazif, L.J.Cleary, John H. Byrne. Morphological correlates of long-term
sensitization in Aplysia are Mimicked by cAMP. Molluscan Neurobiology (eds
K.S.Kits, H.H. Boer and J. Joose), North Holland Publishing Company, 1991
Honors and Awards
Faculty Development Grant, 2000
Psychoactive Drugs and the Molecular Biology of the Neuron, Harvard, Conference.
Faculty Development Grant, 1999
Development and Plasticity of the Brain, University of Arizona, Conference.
NIH Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, 1995-1997
"Examination of the Role of Cell Adhesion Molecules during Axonal Navigation
in the Developing Visual Cortex.
NIMH Individual Predoctoral Fellowship Award, 1990-1993
"Long-term Effects on Neuronal Morphology elicited by Transient Elevation
of cAMP".
Undergraduate Research Projects Supervised
1999 - "Environmental Stress Interferes with the Acquisition
of Short-Term Memory for Sensitization in Aplysia Californica",
Danilo de Jesus. Paper presented at the 103rd Annual Meeting
of the Texas Academy of Science, Kingsville, Texas.
2000 - "Effects of Stress on the Retrieval of Short-Term
Memories which have been acquired in the Absence of Stress",
Wesley Foerster.
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