Mariam Alaverdashvili

Research Interests

Dr. Alaverdashvili’s research focuses on neural mechanisms of learning and memory in the rats. Her current projects uses functional/neuroimaging (catFISH), molecular, behavioural and electrophysiological approaches to investigate: (1) functional/anatomical organization of medial entorhinal cortex; (2) neural network dynamics in early vs. late stages of skilled reaching movement of upper extremities and (3) reactivation of memory traces of skilled motor action during sleep.

Biography

Mariam received her PhD in biology from the Institute of Physiology, Academy of Science of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia in 2000. Her dissertation research was on neuropsychological analyses of behaviour in delayed response tasks in the rat (Supervisors: Dr. T. Naneishvili and Dr. M. Dashniani). Mariam moved to Canada in 2006 to conduct her postdoctoral work under the directory of Dr. Ian Q. Whishaw (CCBN, University of Lethbridge). Most of her research aimed at the contribution of motor cortex in the learning and execution of skilled upper extremity movements in both healthy and stroke rodent model at the systems level. In 2009, Mariam joined to Dr. Bruce L. McNaughton group as a Postdoctoral fellow.

Degrees

  • Ph.D - Institute of Physiology, Academy of Science of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia.
  • M.Sc - Iv. Javakhishvili State University, Tbilisi, Georgia.

Recent Publications

  1. Karl J.M., Alaverdashvili M., Cross A.R., Whishaw I.Q. (2010) Thinning, movement, and volume loss of residual cortical tissue occurs after stroke in the adult rat as identified by histological and MRI analysis. Neuroscience, in press.
  2. Alaverdashvili M. and Whishaw I.Q. (2010) Compensation aids skilled reaching in aging and in recovery from forelimb motor cortex stroke in the rat. Neuroscience, 167, 21-30.
  3. Sacrey L.A.R., Gorny B.P., Alaverdashvili M., Whishaw I.Q. (2009) Rodent Model of Human Skilled Reaching. JoVE.
  4. Sacrey L.A.R, Alaverdashvili M. and Whishaw I.Q. (2009) Similar hand shaping in reaching-for-food (skilled reaching) in rats and humans provides evidence of homology in release, collection, and manipulation movements Behav Brain Res., 204, 153-161.
  5. Moon S.K., Alaverdashvili M, Cross A.R., Whishaw IQ. (2009) Both compensation and recovery of skilled reaching following small photothrombotic stroke to motor cortex in the rat. Exp Neurol. 218(1):145-53.
  6. Lim D.H., Alaverdashvili M. and Whishaw I.Q. (2008) Nicotine does not improve recovery from learned nonuse nor improve constraint-induced therapy after motor cortex stroke in the rat. Behav Brain Res, 198(2): 411-9.
  7. Alaverdashvili M., Moon S.K., Beckman C., Virag A. and Whishaw I.Q. (2008) Acute but not chronic differences in skilled reaching for food following motor cortex devascularization vs photothrombotic stroke in the rat. Neuroscience, 157: 297-308.
  8. Alaverdashvili M. and Whishaw I.Q. (2008) The effect of motor cortex ablation (stroke) on digital usage in the rat: A high speed video analysis provides evidence for the contribution of independent digit movement to grasping in the rat. Eur J Neurosci, 28: 311-322.
  9. Alaverdashvili M., Leblond H., Rossignol S. and Whishaw I.Q. (2008) Cineradiographic (video X-ray) analysis of skilled reaching in a single pellet reaching task provides insight into relative contribution of body, head, oral, and forelimb movement in rats. Behav Brain Res, 192: 232-247.
  10. Whishaw I.Q., Alaverdashvili M., Kolb B. (2008) The problem of relating plasticity and skilled reaching after motor cortex stroke in the rat. Behav Brain Res, 192:124-36.
  11. Alaverdashvili M., Foroud M., Lim D.H. and Whishaw I.Q. (2008) “Learned baduse” limits recovery of skilled reaching for food after forelimb motor cortex stroke in rats: Interference by reach attempts on success. Behav Brain Res, 188. 281–290.
  12. Alaverdashvili M., Lim D.H., Whishaw I.Q. (2007) No improvement by amphetamine on learned nonuse, attempts, success, or movement in skilled reaching by the rat after motor cortex stroke. Eur J Neurosci, 25: 3442-3452.