Klaus-Peter Ossenkopp, Western University

Research

conditioned context aversion conditioned taste aversion conditioning effects of gonadal hormones estrogen and disgust responding nutrient-toxin trade off rat sex differences

Latest papers

Avoidance of bacterial and viral threat is affected by infection status in a terrestrial snail.
Behavioural processes · 2026
Toxin-induced conditioned disgust responses: Comparing emetine and scopolamine methyl nitrate (SMN) to lithium chloride (LiCl).
Behavioural brain research · 2026 · senior author
Timing-dependent immune modulation of learning in a long-interval rodent model of anticipatory nausea.
Behavioural brain research · 2026 · senior author

All 61 publications

Latest funding

Immune, Hormonal and Neural Mechanisms of Ingestive Behavior
NSERC · 2020 · Principal investigator
$140,000
Immune, Hormonal and Neural Mechanisms of Feeding Behavior
NSERC · 2014 · Principal investigator
$170,000
Immune, hormonal and neural mechanisms of ingestive behavior
NSERC · 2009 · Principal investigator
$150,000

All 19 grants and awards

61 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 processes2026

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

02

Toxin-induced conditioned disgust responses: Comparing emetine and scopolamine methyl nitrate (SMN) to lithium chloride (LiCl).

Lake GE, Wang L, Al-Khudairy M, Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp KP

Behavioural brain research2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116087 PMID: 41655821

03

Timing-dependent immune modulation of learning in a long-interval rodent model of anticipatory nausea.

Bishnoi IR, Matic VM, Wang L, Ravichandran CT, Lake G, Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp KP

Behavioural brain research2026Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2026.116026 PMID: 41506477

04

Sex differences in sucrose-induced locomotor sensitization and cross-sensitization with the D2/D3 agonist quinpirole in rats.

Matic V, Huynh M, Bishnoi IR, Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp KP

Behavioural brain research2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2025.115771 PMID: 40784624

05

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) attenuates the primary conditioning of lithium chloride (LiCl)-induced context aversion but not the secondary conditioning of context aversion or taste avoidance.

Bishnoi IR, Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp KP

Behavioural brain research2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114800 PMID: 38061669

06

The enteric metabolite, propionic acid, impairs social behavior and increases anxiety in a rodent ASD model: Examining sex differences and the influence of the estrous cycle.

Benitah KC, Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp KP

Pharmacology, biochemistry, and behavior2023Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2023.173630 PMID: 37640163

07

Disgusted snails, oxytocin, and the avoidance of infection threat.

Kavaliers M, Wah DTO, Bishnoi IR, Ossenkopp KP, Choleris E

Hormones and behavior2023

DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105424 PMID: 37678092

08

Immune activation attenuates memory acquisition and consolidation of conditioned disgust (anticipatory nausea) in rats.

Bishnoi IR, Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp KP

Behavioural brain research2023Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114250 PMID: 36503043

09

Infection, learning, and memory: Focus on immune activation and aversive conditioning.

Bishnoi IR, Cloutier CJ, Tyson CD, Matic VM, Kavaliers M, Ossenkopp KP

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews2022Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104898 PMID: 36183862

10

Odor-based mate choice copying in deer mice is not affected by familiarity or kinship.

Kavaliers M, Bishnoi IR, Ossenkopp KP, Choleris E

Animal cognition2022

DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01550-z PMID: 34398314

Immune, Hormonal and Neural Mechanisms of Ingestive Behavior

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Ossenkopp, Klaus-Peter

Keywords: conditioning; conditioned taste aversion; conditioned context aversion; taste reactivity responding; toxin-induced conditioning; effects of gonadal hormones; estrogen and disgust responding; nutrient-toxin trade off; sex differences; rat

$140,000

Immune, Hormonal and Neural Mechanisms of Feeding Behavior

Principal investigatorNSERC2014Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Ossenkopp, KlausPeter

$170,000

Immune, hormonal and neural mechanisms of ingestive behavior

Principal investigatorNSERC2009Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Ossenkopp, KlausPeter

$150,000

A behavioural neuroendocrinology laboratory at the University of Western Ontario

Co-investigatorNSERC2007Major Resources Support Program - Infrastructure

Principal investigators: Hampson, Elizabeth

$172,890

Multimode plate reader for analysis of hormones and cytokine

Co-investigatorNSERC2006Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Kavaliers, Martin

$30,000

Analytical system for videotape analysis of behavior and behavior patterns

Principal investigatorNSERC2004Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Ossenkopp, KlausPeter

$11,730

Hormonal and neural mechanisms of ingestive behavior

Principal investigatorNSERC2004Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Ossenkopp, KlausPeter

$100,000

A behavioural neuroendocrinology laboratory and research group

Co-investigatorNSERC2003Major Facilities Access Grants

Principal investigators: Hampson, Elizabeth

$135,000

Cryostat for neuroendocrinology research group

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

Principal investigators: MacDougallShackleton, Scott

$27,140

Automated ultrasonic vocalization determinations

Co-investigatorNSERC2001Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Principal investigators: Kavaliers, Martin

$7,800

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

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

Martin Kavaliers

Psychology

53 shared papers, latest 2026

Elena Choleris

Psychology

9 shared papers, latest 2026

Write to this professor

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Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2020

Subject: Prospective PhD student: conditioned context aversion Dear Professor Ossenkopp, 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.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Immune, Hormonal and Neural Mechanisms of Ingestive Behavior" (2020), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. 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]