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The Clayton Lab

at Queen Mary University of London

Key publications (full list available in Google Scholar)

Primary Research Milestones

• Acute social isolation alters neurogenomic state in songbird forebrain. George JM, Bell ZW, Condliffe D, Dohrer K, Abaurrea T, Spencer K, Leitao A, Gahr M, Hurd PJ, Clayton DF (2019). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1820841116

• Urotensin-related gene transcripts mark developmental emergence of the male forebrain vocal control system in songbirds. Bell ZW, Lovell P, Mello CV, Yip P, George JM, Clayton DF (2019). Scientific Reports 9:816. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-37057-w

• Detailed temporal structure of communication network in groups of songbirds. Stowell D, Gill L, Clayton DF (2016). Journal of the Royal Society Interface 3: 20160296. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2016.0296

• Functional genomic analysis and neuroanatomical localization of miR-2954, a song-responsive sex-linked microRNA in the zebra finch. Lin Y-C, Balakrishnan CN, Clayton DF (2014) Frontiers in Neuroscience 8:409. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2014.00409.

• Noninvasive diffusive optical imaging of the auditory response to birdsong in the zebra finch. Lee JV, Maclin EL, Low KA, Gratton G, Fabiani M, Clayton DF (2013). Journal of Comparative Physiology A 199: 227-238. DOI: 10.1007/s00359-012-0788-0.

• Song exposure alters the profile of microRNAs in the zebra finch auditory forebrain. Gunaratne PH, Lin Y-C, Benham AL, Drnevich J, Coarfa C, Tennakoon JB, Creighton CJ, Kim JH, Watson M, Clayton DF (2011). BMC Genomics 12:277.

• The impact of experience-dependent and independent factors on gene expression in songbird brain. Drnevich J, Replogle K, Lovell P, Hahn TP, Johnson F, Mast TG, Nordeen E, Nordeen K, Strand C, London SE, Mukai M, Wingfield JC, Arnold AP, Ball GF, Brenowitz E, Wade J, Mello C, and Clayton DF (2012) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 109:17245–17252

• The Genome of a Songbird. Warren, W., Clayton, D.F. and 80 other authors (2010)  Nature 464:757-762 
  

• Discrete molecular states in the brain accompany changing responses to a vocal signal. Dong, S., Replogle KA, Hasadsri L,  Imai B, Yau P, Rodriguez-Zas, S,, Southey, B.R., Sweedler J, and Clayton DF (2009) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 106:11364-11369.
  

• Functional identification of sensory mechanisms required for developmental song learning. London, S.E. and Clayton, D.F. (2008) Nature Neuroscience 11(5):579-86 doi:10.1038/nn.
  

• The Songbird Neurogenomics (SoNG) Initiative: community-based tools and strategies for study of brain gene function and evolution. Replogle K, Arnold AP, Ball GF, Band M, Bensch S, Brenowitz EA, Dong S, Drnevich J, Ferris M,  George JM, Gong G, Hasselquist D, Hernandez AG, Kim R, Lewin H,  Liu L, Lovell PV, Mello CV, Naurin S, Rodriguez-Zas S, Thimmapuram J, Wade J, and Clayton DF (2008)  BMC Genomics 9:131.
  

• Dynamic role of postsynaptic caspase-3 and BIRC4 in zebra finch song response habituation. Huesmann, G.R. and Clayton, D.F. (2006) Neuron 52, 1061-1072.
  

• Activation and habituation of ERK phosphorylation in zebra finch auditory forebrain during song presentation. Cheng, H.-Y. and Clayton, D.F. (2004) Journal of Neuroscience 24, 7503-13.
  

• Rapidly learned song discrimination without behavioural reinforcement in adult male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata).  Stripling, R., Milewski, L.,  Kruse, A.A. and Clayton, D.F. (2003).  Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 79, 41-50.
  

• Estrogen synthesis in the male brain triggers development of the zebra finch song control circuit  in vitro. Holloway, C.C. and Clayton, D.F. (2001).  Nature Neuroscience 4, 170-175.
  

• Stabilization of α-synuclein secondary structure upon binding to synthetic membranes. Davidson, W.S., Jonas, A., Clayton, D.F., and George, J.M. (1998). Journal of Biological Chemistry 273, 9443-9449.
  

• Localized changes in immediate early gene regulation during sensory and motor learning in zebra finches. Jin, H. and Clayton, D.F. (1997).  Neuron 19, 1049-1059.
  

• Response modulation in zebra finch neostriatum: relationship to nuclear gene regulation. Stripling,  R., Volman, S.F. and Clayton, D.F.   (1997).  Journal of Neuroscience  17, 3883-3893. 
  

• Characterization of a novel protein regulated during the critical period for song learning in the zebra finch. George,  J.M., Jin, H.,  Woods,  W.S.,  and Clayton, D.F. (1995).  Neuron 15, 361-372.  
  

• Repeated exposure to one song leads to a rapid and persistent decline in an immediate early gene's response to that song in zebra finch telencephalon. Mello  C.V.,   Nottebohm,  F.,  and Clayton, D.F. (1995). Journal of Neuroscience 15, 6919-6925. 
  

• Song presentation induces gene expression in the songbird forebrain.  Mello, C., Vicario, D.S. and Clayton, D.F. (1992).  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA)  89, 6818-6822.
  

• Probes for rare mRNAs reveal distributed cell subsets in canary brain.  Clayton, D.F., Huecas, M.E., Sinclair-Thompson, E.Y., Nastiuk, K. and Nottebohm, F. (1988)  Neuron 1, 249-261.

• Changes in liver-specific compared to common gene transcription during primary culture of mouse hepatocytes   Clayton, D.F. and Darnell, J.E., Jr.(1983)   Molecular and Cellular Biology 3, 1552-1561.

Reviews & Synthesis

• Learning birdsong by imitation: Transforming sensory information into vocal imitation allows young finches to sing (Perspective, Neuroscience). Clayton DF (2019). Science 366: 33-34

• The role of the genome in experience-dependent plasticity: Extending the analogy of the Genomic Action Potential. Clayton DF, Anreiter I, Aristizabal M, Frankland PW, Binder EB, Citri A (2019). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1820837116

• Genomics of memory and learning in songbirds. Clayton DF (2013). Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics 14: 45-65

• Integrating genomes, brain and behavior in the study of songbirds. Clayton, D.F., Balakrishnan C.N. and London S.E. (2009) Current Biology 19: R865–R873.
  

• Habituation revisited: An updated and revised description of the behavioral characteristics of habituation. Rankin CH, Abrams T, Barry RJ, Bhatnagar S, Clayton DF, Colombo J, Coppola G, Geyer MA, Glanzman DL, Marsland S, McSweeney FK, Wilson DA, Wu CF, Thompson RF. (2009) Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 92: 135-138.
  

• Genes and social behavior. Robinson GE, Fernald RD, Clayton DF  (2008)  Science 322(5903):896-900. 
  

• The Genomic Action Potential. Clayton, D.F. (2000).  Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 74:185-216.
  

• The Synucleins: a family of proteins involved in synaptic function, plasticity, neurodegeneration and disease. Clayton, D.F. and George, J.M. (1998).  Trends in Neuroscience 21, 249-254.
  

• The role of gene regulation in song circuit formation and song learning. Clayton, D.F. (1997) Journal of Neurobiology 33, 549-571.