Anastasia Dorenbusch
Program: Human Paleobiology M.S.
Year of Entry: Fall 2023
Advisor: Chet Sherwood
Anastasia Dorenbusch, from Pataskala, Ohio, is passionate about travel, photography, and musical theater. With a deep love for nature and a strong interest in research, she combines her creative talents with a curiosity for the world around her.
Anastasia's research focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying predatory aggression and hunting behaviors across species. Through immunohistochemistry and microscopy, my master's thesis explores parvalbumin-positive GABAergic neurons in the central amygdala of social and non-social felids, comparing domestic cats and African lions. For my Ph.D., I plan to expand this comparative analysis to investigate the distribution and connectivity of GABAergic neuron types in the CeA, PAG, and Zona Incerta, across carnivorous species, primates, and herbivores, aiming to uncover evolutionary and functional insights into predatory and aggressive behaviors.
Miami University