Dr. Christine Portfors
My long term research goals are to understand how complex sounds are processed by the auditory system and to determine how age-related hearing loss impacts this processing. To achieve these goals, I utilize a systems-level neuroethological approach that makes use of my broad academic training from behavior to neurophysiology and neuroanatomy. I use natural vocalizations to probe the neural mechanisms underlying encoding of species-specific vocalizations in the auditory brainstem, midbrain and cortex of awake animals. I employ both bats and mice as model systems because of their rich repertoires of complex species-specific vocalizations and my ability to record from individual neurons under awake conditions in these animals. I enhance the strength of my research program through strong collaborations with computational neuroscientists and neuroanatomists. My research at WSU Vancouver has been generously funded by NIH and NSF.
To see a video highlighting our research go to: http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/science_nation/soundsofsurvival.jsp
For more information visit our lab website: http://research.vancouver.wsu.edu/hearing-and-communication-lab
Courses
| Course ID | Title | Meeting Time | Location | Semester | Syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bio 353 | Mammalian Physiology | ||||
| Bio 456 | Neuroethology | ||||
| Bio 438 | Animal Behavior |
Graduate Students
Current Graduate Students:
Justin Hamilton
Elena Mahrt
Jenni Martin
Zachary Mayko
If you are interested in graduate studies in my lab, please email me.
Recent Publications
Wenstrup, J.J. and Portfors, C.V. (2011). Neural Processing of Target Distance by Echolocating Bats: Functional Roles of the Auditory Midbrain. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2010.12.015
Holmstrom, L., Eeuwes, L, Roberts, P.D. and Portfors, C.V. (2010). Efficient encoding of behaviorally relevant sounds in the auditory midbrain. Journal of Neuroscience, 30, 802-819.
Portfors, C.V., Jonson, K.G. and Roberts, P.D. (2009). Over-representation of species-specific vocalizations in the awake mouse inferior colliculus. Neuroscience, 162, 486-500.
Holmstrom L, Kim S, McNames J, Portfors C.V. (2009). Stimulus design for auditory neuroethology using state space modeling and the extended Kalman smoother. Hearing Research, 247, 1-16.
Roberts P.D. and Portfors C.V. (2008). Design principles of sensory processing in cerebellum-like structures. Early stage processing of electrosensory and auditory objects. Biological Cybernetics, 98, 491-507.
Holmstrom, L, Roberts, P.D. and Portfors, C.V. (2007). Responses to social vocalizations in the inferior colliculus of the mustached bat are influenced by secondary tuning curves. Journal of Neurophysiology, 98, 3461-3472.
Felix, R.A. and Portfors, C.V. (2007) Excitatory, inhibitory and facilitatory frequency response areas in the inferior colliculus of hearing impaired mice. Hearing Research. 228, 212-229.
Portfors, C.V. and Roberts, P.D. (2007) Temporal and frequency characteristics of cartwheel cells in the dorsal cochlear nucleus of the awake mouse. Journal of Neurophysiology. 98, 744-756.
Portfors C.V. (2007) The Nuclei of the Lateral Lemniscus: Two Functional Systems. In: The Senses: A Comprehensive Reference, Vol. 3 Audition. (eds. P. Dallos and D. Oertel, editors), Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 751-758.
Hoxeng, C.M., Apling, M. Ritson, P.I. and Portfors, C.V. (2007). Light-tagging disrupts social dynamics of bat harems. Acta Chiroptologica, 9,161-169.
Portfors, C.V. (2007). Types and functions of ultrasonic vocalizations in laboratory rats and mice. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, 46, 28-34.