Jennifer Bizon, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Office Phone: (352) 294-5149
Lab Phone:     (352) 294-5028
Email:              bizonj@ufl.edu

Education:

1998 Ph.D. (Neurobiology & Behavior) University of California, Irvine, CA
                                         1998-2003   Postdoctoral  Fellowship (Psychological & Brain Sciences), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Research Summary:

Dr. Bizon’s laboratory uses rodent models to investigate the neurobiological underpinnings of cognitive aging, including loss of functions related to learning, memory and executive function (e.g., decision making).

Key Words:

Cognitive Aging
Learning
Memory
Executive Function
Basal Forebrain
Hippocampus
Prefrontal Cortex
Decision Making

Research Focus:

Age-related cognitive decline is a substantial problem, particularly as expectations of longevity have increased two-fold in the last century, and it is estimated that upwards of 25% of people over age 65 exhibit some form of cognitive deficit. As such, there is great interest in: 1- early detection of failing cognition; 2- determining neurobiological factors responsible for such decline; and 3- developing effective treatments to slow or even reverse cognitive decline in aging. Each of these questions is currently being pursued in my laboratory. Broadly, my research uses a combination of molecular, neuroanatomical, and behavioral approaches to identify the mechanisms and circuitry responsible for the emergence of cognitive impairment across the lifespan. The ability to link molecular and cellular changes in the brain to behavioral outcomes is a powerful approach to aging research and is a central theme in my laboratory. Current areas of particular focus are:

• Characterization of age-related changes in the neuroanatomy of the septo-hippocampal system in relation to learning and memory
• Identification of age-related changes in modulatory neurotransmitter systems (e.g. – acetylcholine, dopamine) in relation to prefrontal cortical-dependent cognition (executive function)
• Development of rat and mouse models for early detection of age-related deficits in memory and executive function
• Identification and testing of novel drug therapies targeting age-related cognitive decline
• Use of olfaction and related neural systems to predict and direct cognitive outcomes in aging
• Short and long-term neurobiological and behavioral consequences of neurotoxins (mercury, lead) and drugs of abuse (e.g., psychostimulants) 

Lab Members:

Recent or Most Significant Publications:

Alexander GE, Ryan L, Bowers D, Foster TC, Bizon JL, Geldmacher DS, Glisky EL. Characterizing cognitive aging in humans with links to animal models. Front Aging Neurosci 2012; 4:21.PM:22988439

Banuelos C, Gilbert RJ, Montgomery KS, Fincher AS, Wang H, Frye GD, Setlow B, Bizon JL. Altered spatial learning and delay discounting in a rat model of human third trimester binge ethanol exposure. Behav Pharmacol 2012; 23(1):54-65.PM:22129556

Banuelos C, Lasarge CL, McQuail JA, Hartman JJ, Gilbert RJ, Ormerod BK, Bizon JL. Age-related changes in rostral basal forebrain cholinergic and GABAergic projection neurons: relationship with spatial impairment. Neurobiol Aging 2013; 34(3):845-862.PM:22817834

Bizon JL, Foster TC, Alexander GE, Glisky EL. Characterizing cognitive aging of working memory and executive function in animal models. Front Aging Neurosci 2012; 4:19.PM:22988438

Foster TC, Defazio RA, Bizon JL. Characterizing cognitive aging of spatial and contextual memory in animal models. Front Aging Neurosci 2012; 4:12.PM:22988436

Huie JR, Garraway SM, Baumbauer KM, Hoy KC, Jr., Beas BS, Montgomery KS, Bizon JL, Grau JW. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor promotes adaptive plasticity within the spinal cord and mediates the beneficial effects of controllable stimulation. Neuroscience 2012; 200:74-90.PM:22056599

Lim CS, Kim YJ, Hwang YK, Banuelos C, Bizon JL, Han JS. Decreased interactions in protein kinase A-glucocorticoid receptor signaling in the hippocampus after selective removal of the basal forebrain cholinergic input. Hippocampus 2012; 22(3):455-465.PM:21254302

McQuail JA, Banuelos C, Lasarge CL, Nicolle MM, Bizon JL. GABA(B) receptor GTP-binding is decreased in the prefrontal cortex but not the hippocampus of aged rats. Neurobiol Aging 2012; 33(6):1124-12.PM:22169202

Mendez IA, Gilbert RJ, Bizon JL, Setlow B. Effects of acute administration of nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic agonists and antagonists on performance in different cost-benefit decision making tasks in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2012; 224(4):489-499.PM:22760484

Roberson ED, Defazio RA, Barnes CA, Alexander GE, Bizon JL, Bowers D, Foster TC, Glisky EL, Levin BE, Ryan L, Wright CB, Geldmacher DS. Challenges and opportunities for characterizing cognitive aging across species. Front Aging Neurosci 2012; 4:6.PM:22988434

Mendez IA, Damborsky JC, Winzer-Serhan UH, Bizon JL, Setlow B. alpha4beta2( *) and alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor binding predicts choice preference in two cost benefit decision-making tasks. Neuroscience 2013; 230:121-131.PM:23159316

Banuelos C, Lasarge CL, McQuail JA, Hartman JJ, Gilbert RJ, Ormerod BK, Bizon JL. Age-related changes in rostral basal forebrain cholinergic and GABAergic projection neurons: relationship with spatial impairment. Neurobiol Aging 2013; 34(3):845-862.PM:22817834 

PubMed