Education:
Ph.D., Cornell University - 2005 (Neurobiology and Behavior)
M.S., Florida Institute of Technology - 1997 (Biological Sciences / Marine Biology)
B.S., Ursinus College - 1994 (Biology)
Areas of Expertise:
Using fish as model systems, Forlano's lab employs a combination of evolutionary/systems neuroscience with a molecular and cellular approach in order to identify the mechanisms underlying steroid-induced neural plasticity and sex differences in brain and behavior. These studies focus on vocal, auditory and neuroendocrine circuits that are conserved across vertebrates.
Books and Publications
Petersen, C. L., Timothy, M., Kim, D.S., Bhandiwad, A. A., Mohr, R. A., Sisneros, J. A., Forlano, P. M. 2013. Exposure to Advertisement Calls of Reproductive Competitors Activates Vocal-Acoustic and Catecholaminergic Neurons in the Plainfin Midshipman Fish, Porichthys notatus. PLoS ONE 8(8): e70474. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070474 (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2013
Zhang, C., P.M. Forlano and R.D. Cone. "AgRP and POMC Neurons Are Hypophysiotropic and Coordinately Regulate Multiple Endocrine Axes in a Teleost." Cell Metabolism 15: 1-9. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2012
Forlano, P.M. and A.H. Bass. "Neural and Hormonal Mechanisms of Reproductive-related Arousal in Fishes." Hormones and Behavior 59: 616-29. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2011
Forlano, P.M. and C.S. Woolley. "Quantitative Analysis of Pre- and Postsynaptic Sex Differences in the Nucleus Accumbens." Journal of Comparative Neurology 518: 1330-48. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2010
Forlano, P.M., M. Marchaterre, D.L. Deitcher and A.H. Bass. "Neuroanatomical Distribution of Androgen Receptor mRNA in Vocal, Auditory and Neuroendocrine Circuits in a Teleost Fish." Journal of Comparative Neurology 518: 493-512. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2010
Snyder, M.A., T. Smejkalova, P.M. Forlano and C.S. Woolley. "Multiple ERβ Antisera Label in ERβ Knockout and Null Mouse Tissues." Journal of Neuroscience Methods 188: 226-34. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2010
Bass, A.H. and P.M. Forlano. "Neuroendocrine Mechanisms of Alternative Reproductive Tactics: The Chemical Language of Social Plasticity." Alternative Reproductive Tactics: An Integrative Approach. Eds. R. Oliveira, M. Taborsky and J. Brockmann. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. (Books and Publications: Chapter) 2008
Forlano, P.M. and R.D. Cone. "Conserved Neurochemical Pathways Involved in Hypothalamic Control of Energy Homeostasis." Cover article. Journal of Comparative Neurology 505: 235-48. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2007
Forlano, P.M., L.R. Remage-Healey, J.A. Sisneros and A.H. Bass. "Steroid-Induced Plasticity in the Auditory and Vocal Motor System: Recent Studies in a Teleost Fish." Evolutionary Molecular Strategies and Plasticity. Eds. M. Canonaco and R.M. Facciolo. New Delhi: Research Signpost. (Books and Publications: Chapter) 2007
Forlano, P.M., B.A. Schlinger and A.H. Bass. "Brain Aromatase: New Lessons from Non-Mammalian Model Systems." Cover article. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology 27: 247-74. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2006
Forlano, P.M. and A.H. Bass. "Seasonal Plasticity of Brain Aromatase mRNA Expression in Glia: Divergence across Sex and Vocal Phenotypes." Cover article. Journal of Neurobiology 65: 37-49. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2005
Forlano, P.M. and A.H. Bass. "Steroid Regulation of Brain Aromatase Expression in Glia: Female Preoptic and Vocal Motor Nuclei." Journal of Neurobiology 65: 50-58. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2005
Forlano, P.M., D.L. Deitcher and A.H. Bass. "Distribution of Estrogen Receptor Alpha mRNA in the Brain and Inner Ear of a Vocal Fish with Comparisons to Sites of Aromatase Expression." Journal of Comparative Neurology 483: 91-113. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2005
Sisneros, J.A., P.M. Forlano, D.L. Deitcher and A.H. Bass. "Steroid-Dependent Auditory Plasticity Leads to Adaptive Coupling of Sender and Receiver." Science 305: 404-07. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2004
Sisneros, J.A., P.M. Forlano, R. Knapp and A.H. Bass. "Seasonal Variation of Steroid Hormone Levels in an Intertidal-Nesting Fish, the Vocal Plainfin Midshipman." Cover article. General and Comparative Endocrinology 136: 101-16. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2004
Forlano, P.M., D.L. Deitcher, D.A. Myers and A.H. Bass. "Anatomical Distribution and Cellular Basis for High Levels of Aromatase Activity in the Brain of Teleost Fish: Aromatase Enzyme and mRNA Expression Identify Glia as Source." Journal of Neuroscience 21: 8943-55. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2001
Forlano, P.M., K.P. Maruska, S.A. Sower, J.A. King and T.C. Tricas. "Differential Distribution of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone-Immunoreactive Neurons in the Stingray Brain: Functional and Evolutionary Considerations." Cover article. General and Comparative Endocrinology 118: 226-48. (Books and Publications: Peer Reviewed Article) 2000
Awards, Honors and Fellowships
Erik B. Fries Endowed Fellowship Fund Award, the H. Keffer Hartline and Edward MacNichol, Jr. Fellowship Award, and the Laura and Arthur Colwin Endowed Summer Research Fellowship Fund Award to support summer research at the Marine Biological Laboratory's Whitman Center, Woods Hole, Mass. (Awards and Honors) 2012
Leonard and Claire Tow Faculty Travel Fellowship, to conduct research at the Bodega Marine Laboratory. Bodega Bay, Calif. (Grants and Fellowships) 2010
NIH Individual Postdoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) F32 DA025449, Northwestern University, for "Synaptic Sex Differences in the Nucleus Accumbens." (Grants and Fellowships) 2008
Young Investigator Award, International Meeting on Steroids and Nervous System. (Awards and Honors) 2007
Scholarship award, to attend "Neural Development and Genetics of Zebrafish" course. Marine Biological Laboratory. Woods Hole, Mass. (Grants and Fellowships) 2006
NIH Postdoctoral Training Grant in Neuroendocrinology, 5 T32 DK007680, Vollum Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, 2005-06. (Grants and Fellowships) 2005
Young Investigator Award, Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. (Awards and Honors) 2004
Graduate Student Poster Award, Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. (Awards and Honors) 2003
NIMH Predoctoral Training Grant in Integrative Neurobiology, 2 T32 MH015793, Cornell University, 1999-2004. (Grants and Fellowships) 1999
Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums
"Neurochemical and Neuroanatomical Substrates Underlying Auditory-driven Social Behavior in a Vocal Fish." 1st annual CUNY Animal Behavior Initiative (CABI) Conference. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2012
"Neurochemical Substrates for Modulation of Vocal-acoustic Circuitry and Behavior in a Teleost Fish." Department of Biology, City College (CUNY). (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2011
Forlano, P.M., M. Marchaterre, D.L. Deitcher and A.H. Bass. "Substrates for Vocal-Acoustic Plasticity: Neuroestrogen and Steroid Hormone Receptor Expression in Midshipman Fish." Fish Bioacoustics: Sensory Biology, Sound Production and Behavior of Acoustic Communication in Fishes. Acoustical Society of America. Portland, Ore. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2009
"Fish as Model Systems for Steroidal Influences on Brain and Behavior." Department of Biology, University of Toronto at Scarborough. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2008
Forlano, P.M. and A.H. Bass. "Substrates for Plasticity: Brain Aromatase, Estrogen and Androgen Receptors in Sexually Dimorphic, Vocal-Acoustic and Auditory Pathways in a Teleost Fish." Trab. Inst. Cajal. 81: 99-100. Young Investigator Symposium, International Meeting on Steroids and Nervous System. Torino, Italy. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2007
"Brain Aromatase Expression in a Vocal Fish With Alternative Reproductive Morphs." Hormones and Behavior 46: 130. Young Investigator Symposium. Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. Lisbon, Portugal. (Conferences, Seminars and Symposiums: Invited Talk) 2004
Professional Leadership
Associate Director, Aquatic Research and Environmental Assessment Center, Brooklyn College. (Professional Leadership: Organizational Leadership Position) 2009
Other Professional Activities
Appointment to CUNY doctoral faculty in Biology, Subprogram in Neuroscience. 2011
Appointment to CUNY Doctoral Faculty in Biology, Subprogram in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior. 2010
