The Behavioral Neuroscience Group
The Behavioral Neuroscience Group, founded in 2025, is a dynamic collaboration of young researchers and students guided by Dr. Evgenia Sitnikova. We aim to bridge the gap between neuroscience research and practical applications, ensuring a smooth transition from laboratory findings to real-world use..
We conduct experimental studies using rats, with a particular emphasis on elucidating the mechanisms underlying inherited brain disorders. Our approach blends interdisciplinary research, combining insights from physics, mathematics, and genetics to tackle intricate neurological challenges.
Our current areas of research are as follows:
* Basic behavioral aspects, including social behavior, memory, and learning in rats, as well as the analysis of ultrasonic vocalizations.
* Absence epilepsy in genetically predisposed WAG/Rij rats.We are investigating the epileptic traits and selecting a non-epileptic control group: NEW, non-epileptic WAG/Rij rats.
* Neurobehavioral comorbidities associated with absence epilepsy in rats.
* Thalamocortical mechanisms in health and disease.
* Sleep and sedation processes.
* The adrenergic system's modulation of absence epilepsy, sedative effects, and sleep states.
* Electrical brain activity in rats in freely moving rats.
* Novel methodologies and strategies for the analysis of physiological data.
* Implementation of machine learning technologies and artificial neural networks to automate the routine analysis of physiological data.
Список сотрудников
Publication list
Papers
- Lazarenko I.A., Sitnikova E.Y. A novel ANN-based Classification of Spike-Wave Activity in 24-hours EEG recordings in Rats using Spectrograms: Spike-Wave Discharge Artificial Neural Network (SWAN). Journal Of Neuroscience Methods. 2025. V. 14. P. 110555. DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2025.110555
- Pupikina M.E., Sitnikova E.Y. Behavioral Phenotyping of WAG/Rij Rat Model of Absence Epilepsy: The Link to Anxiety and Sex Factors. Biomedicines. 2025. V. 13. N. 9. P. 2075. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13092075
- Pupikina M.E., Sitnikova E.Y. Reassessing anhedonia in Genetic Absence Epilepsy: Sucrose preference unaltered by spike-wave discharges in WAG/Rij rats. Epilepsy Research. 2025. V. 218. P. 107683. DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2025.107683
- Sysoeva O.V., Akhmirov R., Zaichenko M.I., Lazarenko I.A., Rebik A.A., Broshevitskaja N., Midzyanovskaya I.S., Smirnov K.S. Time Perception Test in IntelliCage System for Preclinical Study: Linking Depression and Serotonergic Modulation. Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland). 2025. V. 15. N. 2. P. 151. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15020151
- Biryukova L.M., Tsvetayeva D.A., Midzyanovskaya I.S., Raevsky V.V., Sitnikova E.Y. The neuronal density in the rostral pole of substantia nigra pars compacta in Wistar Albino rats from Rijswijk rats: A link to spike-wave seizures. Journal of Biological Methods. 2024. V. 11. N. 3. e99010022. DOI: 10.14440/jbm.2024.0027
- Iotchev I.B., Perevozniuk D.A., Lazarenko I., Perescis M.F.J., Sitnikova E.Y., van Luijtelaar G. The "Twin Peaks" method of automated Spike-Wave detection: A two-step, two-criteria Matlab application. Journal Of Neuroscience Methods. 2024. V. 409. P. 110199. DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2024.110199
- Perevozniuk D., Lazarenko I., Semenova N., Sitnikova E.Y. A simple and fast ANN-based method of studying slow-wave sleep microstructure in freely moving rats. Biosystems. 2024. V. 235. P. 105112. DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.105112
- Sitnikova E.Y. Behavioral and Cognitive Comorbidities in Genetic Rat Models of Absence Epilepsy (Focusing on GAERS and WAG/Rij Rats). Biomedicines. 2024. V. 12. N. 1. P. 122. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010122
- Sitnikova E.Y., Onat F., van Luijtelaar G. Editorial: Epileptic seizure disorders in animal models: advances in translational approaches. Front. Neurol.. 2024. V. 15. P. 1414940. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1414940
- Sitnikova E.Y., van Luijtelaar G., Onat F. Epileptic seizure disorders in animal models: Advances in translational approaches. doi: 10.3389/978-2-8325-4854-7. Lausanne: Frontiers Media SA. 2024. 109 p.
- Alexandrov P., Pupikina M., Adaeva Z., Sitnikova E.Y. The Difference between Male and Female Rats in Terms of Freezing and Aversive Ultrasonic Vocalization in an Active Avoidance Test. Physiologia. 2023. V. 3. P. 406-420. DOI: 10.3390/physiologia3030028
- Carcak N., Onat F., Sitnikova E.Y. Astrocytes as a target for therapeutic strategies in epilepsy: current insights. Frontiers In Molecular Neuroscience. 2023. V. 16. P. 1183775. DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1183775
- Pupikina M., Sitnikova E.Y. Sex Differences in Behavior and Learning Abilities in Adult Rats. Life. 2023. V. 13. N. 2. P. 547. DOI: 10.3390/life13020547
- Sergeev K., Runnova A., Zhuravlev M., Sitnikova E.Y., Rutskova E.M., Smirnov K.S., Slepnev A., Semenova N. Simple method for detecting sleep episodes in rats ECoG using machine learning. Chaos, Solitons & Fractals. 2023. V. 173. N. April. P. 113608. DOI: 10.1016/j.chaos.2023.113608
- Sitnikova E.Y. Adrenergic mechanisms of absence status epilepticus. Frontiers in Neurology. 2023. V. 14. P. 1298310. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1298310
- Sitnikova E.Y., Pupikina M., Rutskova E.M. Alpha2 Adrenergic Modulation of Spike-Wave Epilepsy: Experimental Study of Pro-Epileptic and Sedative Effects of Dexmedetomidine. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023. V. 24. N. 11. P. 9445. DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119445
- Sitnikova E.Y., Rutskova E.M., Smirnov K.S. Alpha2-Adrenergic Receptors as a Pharmacological Target for Spike-Wave Epilepsy. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023. V. 24. N. 2. P. 1477. DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021477
- Esmaeili A., Antonova A., Sitnikova E.Y., Smirnov K.S. Whisker trimming during infanthood modifies the development of spike-wave discharges and behavioral sequences in IntelliCage impulsivity paradigm in adult WAG/Rij rats. Behavioural Brain Research. 2022. V. 418. P. 113627. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113627
- Sitnikova E.Y., Perevozniuk D., Rutskova E.M., Uzakov S.S., Korshunov V.A. Reduction of Hippocampal High-Frequency Activity in Wag/Rij Rats with a Genetic Predisposition to Absence Epilepsy. Diagnostics. 2022. V. 12. P. 2798. DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12112798
- Sitnikova E.Y., Rutskova E.M., Smirnov K.S., Runnova A., Zhuravlev M. Intracortical synchronization pattern on the preclinical and clinical stages of absence epilepsy (analysis of wavelet bicoherence in WAG/Rij rats). The european physical journal special topics. 2022. DOI: 10.1140/epjs/s11734-022-00719-y
- Zhuravlev M., Runnova A., Smirnov K., Sitnikova E. Spike-Wave Seizures, NREM Sleep and Micro-Arousals in WAG/Rij Rats with Genetic Predisposition to Absence Epilepsy: Developmental Aspects. Life. 2022. V. 12. N. 4. P. 576. DOI: 10.3390/life12040576
- Hramov A.E., Koronovskii A.A., Makarov V.A., Maksimenko V., Pavlov A.N., Sitnikova E.Y. Wavelets in Neuroscience. Switzerland AG: Springer International Publishing. 2021. 384 p.
- Runnova A., Zhuravlev M., Kiselev A., Ukolov R., Smirnov K.S., Karavaev A., Sitnikova E.Y. Automatic wavelet-based assessment of behavioral sleep using multichannel electrocorticography in rats. Sleep and Breathing. 2021. V. 25. N. 4. P. 2251-2258. DOI: 10.1007/s11325-021-02357-5
- Runnova A., Zhuravlev M., Ukolov R., Blokhina I., Dubrovski A., Lezhnev N., Sitnikova E.Y., Saranceva E., Kiselev A., Karavaev A., Selskii A., Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya O., Penzel T., Kurths J. Modified wavelet analysis of ECoG-pattern as promising tool for detection of the blood-brain barrier leakage. Scientific Reports. 2021. V. 11. N. 1. P. 18505. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97427-9
- Sitnikova E.Y. Sleep Disturbances in Rats With Genetic Pre-disposition to Spike-Wave Epilepsy (WAG/Rij). Frontiers in Neurology. 2021. V. 12. P. 766566. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.766566
- Ukolov R., Zhuravlev M., Kustodov S., Sitnikova E.Y. The changes of oscillation patterns in experimental signals by behavioral sleeping and wakefulness. // Saratov Fall Meeting 2020: Computations and Data Analysis: from Molecular Processes to Brain Functions. 2021. V. Proc. SPIE 11847. 118470M.
- Sitnikova E.Y. Thalamo-cortical dysrhythmia and its diagnostic principles. Izvestiya VUZ. Applied Nonlinear Dynamics. 2020. V. 28. N. 3. 282–298. DOI: 10.18500/0869-6632-2020-28-3-282-298
- Sitnikova E., Smirnov K.S. Active avoidance learning in WAG/Rij rats with genetic predisposition to absence epilepsy. Brain Research Bulletin. 2020. V. 165. P. 198-208. DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.10.007
- Sitnikova E.Y., Smirnov K.S., Grubov V.V., Hramov A.E. Diagnostic principles of immature epileptic (proepileptic) EEG activity in rats with genetic predisposition to absence epilepsy. Informatsionno-Upravliaiushchie Sistemy. 2019. V. 1. P. 89-97. DOI: 10.31799/1684-8853-2019-1-89-97
- Sitnikova E., Grubov V., Hramov A.E. Slow-wave activity preceding the onset of 10-15-Hz sleep spindles and 5-9-Hz oscillations in electroencephalograms in rats with and without absence seizures. Journal Of Sleep Research. 2019. V. 29. N. 6. e12927. DOI: 10.1111/jsr.12927
- Smirnov K., Sitnikova E. Developmental milestones and behavior of infant rats: The role of sensory input from whiskers. Behavioural Brain Research. 2019. V. 374. P. 112143. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112143
- Tsvetaeva D.A., Raevsky V.V., Sitnikova E.Y. Peculiarities of somatosensory cortex neuron responses to stimulation of the posterior thalamus (PO) in WAG / Rij rats genetically predisposed to abscess epilepsy. Doklady Akademii Nauk. 2018. V. 480. N. 3. P. 373-376. DOI: 10.7868/S0869565218150240
- Smirnov K., Tsvetaeva D., Sitnikova E. Neonatal whisker trimming in WAG/Rij rat pups causes developmental delay, encourages maternal care and affects exploratory activity in adulthood. Brain Research Bulletin. 2018. V. 140. P. 120-131. DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2018.04.010
- Runova A.E., Zhuravleva M.O., Sitnikova E.Y., Koronosvky A.A., Khromov A.E. Method for removing oculomotor artifacts on human EEG in recognition of ambiguous visual image. Informatsionno-upravlyajuchije sisstemy. 2017. V. 5. P. 105-112. DOI: 10.15217/issn1684-8853.2017.5.10
- Grubov V., Sitnikova E.Y., Pavlov A.N., Koronovskii A.A., Hramov A.E. Recognizing of stereotypic patterns in epileptic EEG using empirical modes and wavelets. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications. 2017. V. 486. P. 206-217. DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2017.05.091
- Sysoeva M.V., Sitnikova E.Y., Sysoev I.V. Thalamo-cortical mechanisms of initiation, maintenance and termination of peak wave discharges in rats WAG / Rij. Zhurnal Vysshei Nervnoi Deiatelnosti im I P Pavlova. 2016. V. 66. N. 2. P. 103-112. DOI: 10.7868/S0044467716010123
- Koronovskii A.A., Hramov A.E., Grubov V.V., Moskalenko O.I., Sitnikova E.Y., Pavlov A.N. Coexistence of intermittencies in the neuronal network of the epileptic brain. Physical Review. E. 2016. V. 93. N. 3. P. 032220. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.93.032220
- Sitnikova E.Y., Hramov A.E., Grubov V., Koronovsky A.A. Rhythmic activity in EEG and sleep in rats with absence epilepsy. Brain Research Bulletin. 2016. V. 120. P. 106-16. DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2015.11.012
- Grubov V.V., Sitnikova E.Y., Koronkovsky A.A., Khromov A.E. Intermittent Intermittency Regime in the Behavior of Characteristic Oscillatory Patterns on an Epileptic Electroencephalogram. Izvestija RAN. Serija Biologicheskaja. 2015. V. 79. N. 12. P. 1527-1695.
- Hramov A.E., Koronovskii A.A., Makarov V.A., Pavlov A.N., Sitnikova E.Y. Wavelets in Neuroscience. Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London: Springer. 2015. 318 p.
- Grubova V.V., Koronovsky A.A., Sitnikova E.Y., Khramov A.E. Frequency-time analysis of characteristic patterns of activity of neural ensembles of the brain using continuous wavelet transform. Izvestija RAN. Serija Fizicheskaja. 2014. V. 78. N. 12. P. 1523-1527.
- Sitnikova E.Y., Hramov A.E., Grubov V., Koronovsky A.A. Time-frequency characteristics and dynamics of sleep spindles in WAG/Rij rats with absence epilepsy. Brain Research. 2014. V. 1543. P. 290-9. DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2013.11.001
- Sitnikova E.Y., Hramov A.E., Grubov V., Koronovsky A.A. Age-Dependent Increase of Absence Seizures and Intrinsic Frequency Dynamics of Sleep Spindles in Rats. Neuroscience Journal. 2014. V. 2014. P. 370764. DOI: 10.1155/2014/370764
- Sysoeva O.V., Sitnikova E.Y., Sysoev I.V., Bezruchko B.P., van Luijtelaar G. Application of adaptive nonlinear Granger causality: disclosing network changes before and after absence seizure onset in a genetic rat model. Journal Of Neuroscience Methods. 2014. V. 226. P. 33-41. DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.01.028
- Trubov V.V., Koronovsky A.A., Sitnikova E.Y., Ivanov A.V., Khramov A.E. `Hardware and software systems for the analysis of brain electrical activity: monitoring of long-term processes in neurophysiology and ecology, clinical practice, creation of brain-computer interfaces. Innovatsionnaja dejatelnost. 2013. V. 2. N. 25. P. 152-161.
- Nazimov A.I., Pavlov A.N., Khromov A.E., Trubov V.V., Sitnikova E.Y., Koronovsky A.A. Adaptive method for recognizing characteristic oscillatory patterns based on wavelet transform. Radiotekhnika i electronika. 2013. V. 58. N. 8. P. 789-795.
- Nazimov A.I., Pavlov A.N., Hramov A.E., Grubov V.V., Sitnikova E.Y., Koronovskii A.A. Adaptive wavelet transform-based method for recognizing characteristic oscillatory patterns. Journal of Communications Technology and Electronics. 2013. V. 58. N. 8. P. 790-795. DOI: 10.1134/S1064226913070115
- Grubova V.V., Sitnikova E.Y., Koronovsky A.A., Pavlov A.N., Khramov A.E. Automatic extraction and analysis of oscillatory patterns on non-stationary EEG signals using wavelet transform and empirical mode method. Izvestija RAN. Serija Fizicheskaja. 2012. V. 76. N. 12. P. 1520-1523.
- Pavlov A.N., Khramov A.E., Koronovsky A.A., Sitnikova E.Y., Makarov V.A., Ovchinnikov A.A. Wavelet Analysis in Neurodynamics. Uspekhi Fizicheskikh Nauk. 2012. V. 182. N. 9. P. 905-939.
- Sitnikova E.Y., Grubova V.V., Khramov A.E., Koronovsky A.A. Age-related changes in the frequency-temporal structure of carotid spindles on EEG in rats with a genetic predisposition to abscess epilepsy (WAG / Rij line). Zhurnal Vysshei Nervnoi Deiatelnosti im I P Pavlova. 2012. V. 62. N. 6. P. 733-744.