The ability of animals and human beings to learn and remember is an adaptation that permits organisms to change their behavior when confronted with changing environmental conditions. The ability to learn and remember is a consequence of having a brain that can change in response to new experiences. One of the major goals for researchers studying the nervous system is to identify particular brain areas or structures that are important for specific kinds of learning and memory. To do so, a variety of animals are studied. In choosing an experimental animal, one generally looks for specialized behavior that may simplify the task of linking brain regions with particular functions. Dr. Bingman's research tries to take advantage of the specialized navigational skills of homing pigeons to identify brain regions important for spatial learning and spatial memory. The basic design of the research project is to surgically remove specific brain regions and then examine what effect such treatment has on homing-pigeon navigational behavior. By examining homing-pigeon behavior following surgical manipulation of the brain, one can begin to construct how various brain regions contribute to the spatial learning and spatial memory used by pigeons to navigate home. Dr. Bingman's research should result in a better understanding of the relationship between memory/learning and the brain. By clarifying how changes in the brain may lead to memory impairments, this research may also help to enhance our understanding of memory disorders in humans.
