Upcoming ION Seminars


Studying the neural basis of prey catching behavior across species for over 60 years has significantly advanced our understanding of the most conserved aspects of visual system function. Our team builds upon this important foundation to understand how fundamental visual processes, such as motion-triggered visual orienting, evolve across species and are modulated within species by life-stage and/or reproductive status. Towards this goal, we primarily study the neural basis of motion- and prey-triggered natural visual orienting behavior in the mouse model. Our specific aims are to understand the neural circuit subcortical mechanisms that critically regulate adaptive variations in these behaviors that depend on developmental stage, sex and hunger drive. Predatory behaviors and related visual orienting, are strategically regulated across species by these internal “states” in particular across a broad range of species from birds and bats to primates.








2025 UO Undergraduate Research Symposium
Undergraduates, register by April 17, 2025 to present!
This academic year will host a series of virtual and in person seminars with live, remote access via Zoom. ION Seminars are open to the University of Oregon community and in person attendance is welcome. In person seminars will be held in Willamette 110 at 4 PM PT where both attendees and speakers are required to follow University of Oregon guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Please visit coronavirus.uoregon.edu for more information.
To accommodate remote speakers and time differences, some seminars may be offered at Noon PT or another agreed upon time. For students taking BI 407/507 Neuroscience Seminar please contact the course instructor to access recordings as needed.
Details for upcoming seminars will be shared here on the ION website as well as through our ION mailing lists. Links for remote access via Zoom will be available only through ION Seminar mailing list and those not on the list can request access by contacting Jenna Penny with their uoregon.edu email address.