Animal Cognition and Neuroscience Laboratory (ACN)

The Animal Cognition and Comparative Neuroscience Lab (ACN) is currently under construction at the Manifattura Tabacchi and is expected to be completed at the end of 2011. Its objective will be the study of mental processes and their neurobiological bases from a comparative perspective. Research will be focused on the mechanisms of cerebral representation of physical and social objects, numbers, time and space. To carry this out different species of vertebrates, in particular fish and birds, will be used as models; these will be housed (along with small rodents) in CIMeC’s animal house. Additional research will be conducted on the neurobiology of insects in collaboration with IASMA (Agrarian Institute of San Michele all’Adige), as well as on cognition in non-human primates in collaboration with the Scientific Area of the Natura-Viva Park. The lab will focus special attention on animal models characterized by simpler (or otherwise different) cerebral architectures than those of mammals, in order to provide support for comparative research and investigations into basic neurological mechanisms. The lab staff is currently involved in a research project on the evolution of brain lateralization as part of a large research team, which comprises eigth different labs in Europe and is funded by an EC grant.The techniques employed will combine traditional methods of ethological and behavioral investigation with neurobiological procedures. 

Current members of the lab

From the left: Orsola Rosa Salva, Laura Fontanari, Elisa Rigosi, Gionata Stancher, Novella Morea, Caterina Quaresimi, Valeria Sovrano.

The members of the ACN Lab actually are:Giorgio Vallortigara (director), Valeria Sovrano (faculty), Beatrice Bonati (post-doc), Cinzia Chiandetti (post-doc), Orsola Rosa Salva (post-doc), Tommaso Pecchia (post-doc), Sang Ah Lee (post doc), Francesco Cerri (technician), Gionata Stancher (fellow at CIMeC and at the Museo Civico in Rovereto) and Elisa Rigosi (PhD student).

Ethology and Evolutionary Biology Laboratory

At the Ethology and Evolutionary Biology Laboratory many different kind of educational activities are organized for children, for students from primary grades, middle school and high school and for adults. Research activities on animal behavior and evolutionary biology are held in the lab facilities (indoor and outdoor spaces)
The lab is a Joint initiative between the Center and the Museo Civico of Rovereto. Visit the lab page.