John G. New
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Professor Adjunct Professor, Parmly Hearing Institute Ph.D., 1987, Wesleyan University Comparative Neurobiology and Neuroethology Phone: 773.508.3675 Fax: 773.508.3646 E-Mail: jnew@luc.edu |
![]() Egyptian hieroglyph ayis ("brain"). The earliest recorded historical mention of the brain. From the Edwin Smith "Surgical" Papyrus. New Kingdom, ca. 1700 B.C.E. |
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Animals have evolved principally to behave, and it is the function of the central nervous system to interpret external and internal events and organize appropriate behavioral responses. The focus of my research program is an increased understanding of the neuroanatomical substrates and physiological mechanisms that form the basis of sensory perception and behavior in the vertebrate central nervous system. To do this I employ a variety of experimental tract-tracing, electrophysiological recording and behavioral techniques. We employ a number of animal systems as models including, but not limited to, catfish, muskellunge, largemouth bass, sturgeon and sharks and rays. The overall goal of my comparative neural studies is an increased understanding of the basic structure, functional properties and the stratagems employed by vertebrate brains to interpret the surrounding world and organize appropriate behavioral responses.
REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS
Coombs, S., J.G. New and M. Nelson, 2003, Information-processing demands in electrosensory and mechanosensory lateral line systems. J. Physiol. (Paris) 96: 351-354New, J.G., 2002, Visual and lateral line sensory integration and feeding behavior in predatory teleost fishes. Brain, Behav. & Evol. 59: 177-189.
New, J.G. and T.C. Tricas, 2001, Electroreceptors and Magnetoreceptors. In: Cell Physiology Source Book, Third Edition, (N. Sperelakis, ed.) pp. 839-859. Academic Press, San Diego.
New, J.G., 2001, Comparative anatomy of the elasmobranch cerebellum: Theme and variations on a sensorimotor interface. In: The Behavior and Sensory Biology of Sharks and Rays: State of the Art and Future Directions. T.C. Tricas and S.E. Gruber (eds.) Env. Biology of Fishes. 60: 93-108.
New, J.G., L.A. Fewkes and A.N. Khan, 2001, Strike feeding behavior in the muskellunge, Esox masquinongy: relative contributions of lateral line and visual sensory systems. J. Exp. Biol. 204: 1207-1221.
New, J.G. and P.Y. Kang, 2000, Multimodal sensory integration in the strike feeding behavior of teleost fishes. Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. (London), 355: 1321-1324.
New, J.G., 1999, The Sixth Sense of Catfish: Anatomy, Physiology and Behavior of Electroreception. Proceedings of the first International Ictalurid Symposium. Amer. Fish. Soc. Symp. 24: 125-139.
New, J.G., B. L. Snyder, and K. L. Woodson, 1998, Origin of descending spinal pathways in the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. Anat Rec., 252: 235-253.
New J.G. and He, J., 1998, Afferent and efferent connections of the nucleus praeeminentialis in the channel catfish: a re-evaluation. Brain, Behav. Evol., 51: 202-214.
Tricas, T.C. and J.G. New, 1998, Sensitivity and response dynamics of elasmobranch electrosensory primary afferent neurons to near threshold fields. J. Comp. Physiol. A 182: 89-101.

Fig. Lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) patrolling the lagoon at Mote Marine Lab



