College of Arts & Sciences Biology

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Cliff H. Summers, Professor

Cliff Summers Office Location: Churchill-Haines 178
Office Phone: 605-677-6177
E-mail Address: cliff.summers@usd.edu
Personal Web Site 

Education

  • Ph.D. University of Colorado, 1987
  • M.A. University of Colorado, 1982
  • B.S. Colorado State University, 1978

Courses Taught

  • Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Special Topics: Affective Disorders
  • Special Topics: Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • General Biology II

Research Description

Our laboratory focuses on the impact of social and environmental stressors on molecular, neural and endocrine responses to influence adaptive behavior and activities like learning, coping, developing social rank relationships, biological rhythms, reproduction and social interaction. Of special interest are how and why individuals differ, and how responses are characterized temporally. The investigations include the connection between molecular, neural and endocrine responses and variability in the magnitude and way in which individuals respond to and cope with stress behaviorally. We have recently developed a new model that includes aggression, learned escape and conditioned submission. We are interested in elucidating the mechanisms by which experience modulates the responsiveness of neural and hormonal stress responses. We think it is important to relate molecular genetics, physiology and anatomy to behavior, ecology and evolution.

Representative Publications 

  • Carpenter, RE and CH Summers 2009. "Learning strategies during fear conditioning." Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 91: 415-423
  • Carpenter, RE, WJ Korzan, C Bockholt, MJ Watt, GL Forster, KJ Renner and CH Summers 2009. "Corticotropin releasing factor influences aggression and monoamines: Modulation of attacks and retreats." Neuroscience 158: 412-425
  • Ling, TJ, GL Forster, MJ Watt, WJ Korzan, KJ Renner and CH Summers 2009. "Social status differentiates rapid neuroendocrine responses to restraint stress." Physiol & Behav 96: 218-232
  • Lukkes, JL, CH Summers, JL Scholl, KJ Renner and GL Forster 2009. "Early life social isolation alters corticotropin-releasing factor responses in adult rats." Neuroscience 158: 845-855
  • Shaw, JC, WJ Korzan, RE Carpenter, AM Kuris, KD Lafferty, CH Summers, Ø Øverli 2009. "Parasite manipulation of brain monoamines in California killifish (Fundulus parvipinnis) by the trematode Euhaplorchis californiensis." Proc R Soc B 276: 1137-1146 

(more publications)