Elena Choleris, University of Guelph

Research

Affiliation Aggression Behavioral Genetics Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Behavioral Pharmachology Individual Learning and Motivation Social approach/avoidance Social learning

Latest papers

Avoidance of bacterial and viral threat is affected by infection status in a terrestrial snail.
Behavioural processes · 2026 · senior author
Reply to Huang and Dong: Clarifying the interpretation of rapid steroid effects in social recognition.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2026 · senior author
Androgens and estrogens rapidly facilitate short-term memory in the dorsal hippocampus of male mice.
Psychoneuroendocrinology · 2026 · senior author

All 75 publications

Latest funding

Startle reflex apparatus: a flexible system for assessing anxiety, hearing ability and sensory gating in mice
NSERC · 2019 · Co-investigator
$42,968
Neuroendocrinology of Social Cognition
NSERC · 2018 · Principal investigator
$120,000
Neuroendocrinology of Social Cognition
NSERC · 2018 · Principal investigator
$553,000

All 10 grants and awards

75 publications.

01

Avoidance of bacterial and viral threat is affected by infection status in a terrestrial snail.

Kavaliers M, Bishnoi IR, Matic V, Ossenkopp KP, Choleris E

Behavioural processes2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2026.105414 PMID: 42521134

02

Reply to Huang and Dong: Clarifying the interpretation of rapid steroid effects in social recognition.

Aspesi D, Varatharajah A, Cioffi L, Diviccaro S, Caruso D, Becke N, Lalonde J, Perreault ML, Melcangi RC, MacLusky NJ, Choleris E

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2618836123 PMID: 42406943

03

Androgens and estrogens rapidly facilitate short-term memory in the dorsal hippocampus of male mice.

LaDouceur KE, Aspesi D, Nielsen KM, Cantini D, Sheppard PAS, Choleris E

Psychoneuroendocrinology2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2026.107852 PMID: 41997012

04

A brain circuit of bidirectional modulation of social and nonsocial cognition by androgens and estrogens in male mice.

Aspesi D, Varatharajah A, Cioffi L, Diviccaro S, Caruso D, Becke N, Lalonde J, Perreault ML, Melcangi RC, MacLusky NJ, Choleris E

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2600302123 PMID: 42113981

05

Deletion of Adaptor Protein ShcD Impairs Olfactory Bulb Morphology and Function.

Robeson HN, New LA, Alural B, Clausen C, Ervin KSJ, Yang H, Cooper CJ, Choleris E, Lalonde J, Jones N

Molecular and cellular biology2026

DOI: 10.1080/10985549.2025.2567559 PMID: 41392689

06

Acute and repeated low dose lipopolysaccharide differentially influences opposite-sex odour preference in male and female mice.

Cantini D, Choleris E, Kavaliers M

Physiology & behavior2025

DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115103 PMID: 40935307

07

Unique nicotinic responses are present in distinct subtypes of mouse medial prefrontal layer V pyramidal neurons.

Patel AV, Nguyen A, Geremia AA, Zeng D, Paletta P, Choleris E, Bailey CDC

Scientific reports2025

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-10465-5 PMID: 40646084

08

The Role of Androgens and Estrogens in Social Interactions and Social Cognition.

Aspesi D, Bass N, Kavaliers M, Choleris E

Neuroscience2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.03.028 PMID: 37080448

09

The Lysine Acetyltransferase PCAF Functionally Interacts with Estrogen Receptor Alpha in the Hippocampus of Gonadally Intact Male-But Not Female-Rats to Enhance Short-Term Memory.

Mitchnick KA, Nicholson K, Wideman C, Jardine K, Jamieson-Williams R, Creighton SD, Lacoursiere A, Milite C, Castellano S, Sbardella G, MacLusky NJ, Choleris E, Winters BD

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience2024

DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1574-23.2024 PMID: 39138001

10

The effects of estrogens on spatial learning and memory in female rodents - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Lymer J, Bergman H, Yang S, Mallick R, Galea LAM, Choleris E, Fergusson D

Hormones and behavior2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105598 PMID: 38968677

Startle reflex apparatus: a flexible system for assessing anxiety, hearing ability and sensory gating in mice

Co-investigatorNSERC2019Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Mason, Georgia

$42,968

Neuroendocrinology of Social Cognition

Principal investigatorNSERC2018Discovery Grants Program - Accelerator Supplements

Principal investigators: Choleris, Elena

$120,000

Neuroendocrinology of Social Cognition

Principal investigatorNSERC2018Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Choleris, Elena

Keywords: Affiliation; Aggression; Behavioral Genetics; Behavioral Neuroendocrinology; Behavioral Pharmachology; Individual Learning and Motivation; Social approach/avoidance; Social learning; Social reactivity; Social recognition

$553,000

Axio Zoom Imaging System for 2D and 3D Analysis of Large Tissue Samples

Co-investigatorNSERC2018Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Jones, Nina

$148,774

From molecules to mammals: multi-level hormone analysis in the field and lab

Co-investigatorNSERC2015Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Newman, Amy

$81,385

Neurobiology of Social Behavior

Principal investigatorNSERC2013Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Choleris, Elena

$200,000

Neurobiology of social behavior

Principal investigatorNSERC2008Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Choleris, Elena

$139,680

High precision feeding system

Principal investigatorNSERC2008Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Choleris, Elena

$35,000

Neurobiology of social learning

Principal investigatorNSERC2003Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Choleris, Elena

$125,000

Automated activity and feeding system

Principal investigatorNSERC2003Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Choleris, Elena

$36,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Psychology
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Integrative Biology
Population Medicine
Department of Medicine
Pathobiology
Human Health and Nutritional Sciences
Other

Co-authors at University of Guelph, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Martin Kavaliers

Psychology

19 shared papers, latest 2026

Klaus-Peter Ossenkopp

Psychology

9 shared papers, latest 2026

Jasmin Lalonde

Molecular and Cellular Biology

4 shared papers, latest 2026

Ray Lu

Molecular and Cellular Biology

3 shared papers, latest 2017

Georgia Mason

Integrative Biology

3 shared papers, latest 2024

Lee Niel

Population Medicine

2 shared papers, latest 2021

Neil MacLusky

Biomedical Sciences

1 shared papers, latest 2017

Elizabeth Hampson

Psychology

1 shared papers, latest 2017

Marica Bakovic

Human Health and Nutritional Sciences

1 shared papers, latest 2018

Nina Jones

Molecular and Cellular Biology

1 shared papers, latest 2026

Francesco Leri

Psychology

1 shared papers, latest 2009

Dorothee Bienzle

Pathobiology

1 shared papers, latest 2015

Dean Fergusson

Department of Medicine

1 shared papers, latest 2024

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Paper to mention

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Affiliation Dear Professor Choleris, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Avoidance of bacterial and viral threat is affected by infection status in a terrestrial snail." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]