Positions
Education
Current University Committees & Engagement
- CRC Selection Committee; 2026
- Chair of the University-Level Biosafety Committee; 2020-present
- Faculty Hiring Committees for Arts and Science (10 times); 2000-2026
Teaching Areas
Undergraduate Programs
- Psychology
Graduate Supervision
Accepting Students for Supervision
School year
- 2027/28
- 2028/29
Guidelines or Expectations for Prospective Students
Begin by taking the course Behavioural Neuroscience PSYC 2605. From there you will have the opportunity to attend lab meetings and begin working towards a thesis supervision spot.
Supervised Theses / Projects
- Ultrastructural analysis of mitochondrial damage associate with neurodegenerative disease and aging.
Research
Research Interests
I am interesting in 'Engrams'. This is a broad term that represents the physical imprint experiences creates in the brain. These include changes in brain ultrastructure, including synapses and mitochondria, that are associated with learning, memory, drug use, aging, neurodegenerative disease and many other psychologically relevant processes.
Current Research Projects / Labs
- Nipissing University (July 2000 - Present)
As an Associate Professor of Psychology I am continuing my research on the synaptic basis of learning and memory. I am currently collaborating with colleagues at the University of Manitoba, the University of Southern California, the Open University in the United Kingdom, and the University of Toronto on several distinct projects. - Open University, United Kingdom (Summer 2008)
As a visiting Professor (rank Senior Lecturer) working with Dr. Michael Stewart I acquired research skills associated with various forms of immuno-transmission electron microscopy.
Grants & Funding
Co-principle investigator on a grant from the Medical School at Memorial University
Open to Media Inquiries
Publications
Books
Weeks, A.C.W. (2018) Brain Development. Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science, Shackelford and Weekes-Shackelford eds. New York, N.Y.: Springer.
Articles
Omoluabi, T., Hasan, Z., Piche, J. E., Flynn, A. R. S., Doré, J. J. E., Walling, S. G., Weeks, A.C.W., Benoukraf, T., and Yuan, Q. (2025). Locus coeruleus vulnerability to tau hyperphosphorylation in a rat model. Aging Cell, 24, e14405.
Invited Lectures
Weeks, A.C.W. (2008) An examination of synaptic ultrastructural change following various forms of learning and neural activation. Life Sciences Department Seminar, Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
Weeks, A.C.W. (2007) A comparison of the synaptic ultrastructural changes that accompany long-term potentiation and learning. Neuroscience Research Unit Conference – 30 years, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON.
Weeks, A.C.W. (2003) Mapping the time sequence of synaptic ultrastructural change following physiological potentiation and learning. Winter Conference on Neural Plasticity, Guadeloupe, French Antilles. Note: Modified version of talk presented by Diano Marrone.
Weeks, A.C.W. (1998) Synaptic structural plasticity following long-term potentiation. Neuroplasticity Conference of the American Physical Therapy Association Section on Research, Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
Weeks, A.C.W. (1998) Structural Synaptic Plasticity following Long-term Potentiation. Research Group in Brain and Behavior, University of Toronto.
Weeks, A.C.W. (1997) The ways in which synapses change after neural stimulation in the hippocampus: A structure important for learning and memory. Faculty Research Seminar at Nipissing University.
Peer Reviewed Publications
Dalzell, L., Connor, S., Penner, M., Saari, M.J., LeBoutillier, J.C., and Weeks, A.C.W. (2011) Fear conditioning is associated with synaptogenesis in the lateral amygdale. Synapse, 65, 513–519.
Connor, S., Bloomfield, J., LeBoutillier, J.C., Thompson, R.F., Petit, T.L., and Weeks, A.C.W. (2009) Eye-blink conditioning is associated with a down regulation of synaptic number in the molecular layer of the rabbit cerebellar cortex. Behavioral Neuroscience. 123, 856–862.
Mirza, R.S., Green, W.W., Conner, S., Weeks, A.C.W., Wood, C.M. and Pyle, G.G. (2009) Do you smell what I smell? Olfactory impairment in wild yellow perch from metal-contaminated waters. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 72, 677-683.
Weeks, A.C.W., Connor, S., Hinchcliff, R, LeBoutillier, J.C., Thompson, R.F., and Petit, T.L. (2007) Eye-blink classical conditioning is associated with changes in synaptic ultrastructure in the interpositus nuclei of the rabbit cerebellum. Learning and Memory, 14, 385-389.
Connor S., Williams, P.T.J., Armstrong, B., Petit, T.L., Ivanco, T.L., and Weeks, A.C.W. (2006) Long-term potentiation is associated with changes in synaptic ultrastructure in the rat neocortex. Synapse 59:378–382.
Weeks, A.C.W., Ivanco, T.L., LeBoutillier, J.C., Marrone, D.F., Racine, R.J., and Petit, T.L. (2003) Unique changes in synapse morphology following tetanization under pharmacological blockade. Synapse, 47, 77-86.
Weeks, A.C.W., Ivanco, T.L., LeBoutillier, J.C., Racine, R.J., and Petit, T.L. (2001) Sequential changes in the synaptic structural profile occur following long-term potentiation in the rat dentate gyrus: III.The late maintenance phase. Synapse, 40, 74-84.
Weeks, A.C.W., Ivanco, T.L., LeBoutillier, J.C., Racine, R.J., and Petit, T.L. (2000) Sequential changes in the synaptic structural profile occur following long-term potentiation in the rat dentate gyrus: II.The induction / early maintenance phase. Synapse, 36, 286-296.
Weeks, A.C.W., Ivanco, T.L., LeBoutillier, J.C., Racine, R.J., and Petit, T.L. (1999) Sequential changes in the synaptic structural profile occur following long-term potentiation in the rat dentate gyrus: I.The intermediate maintenance phase. Synapse, 31, 97-107.
Weeks, A.C.W., Ivanco, T.L., LeBoutillier, J.C., Racine, R.J., and Petit, T.L. (1998) The degree of potentiation is associated with synaptic number during the maintenance of long-term potentiation in the rat dentate gyrus. Brain Research, 798, 211-216.
Brooks, W.J., Weeks, A.C.W., LeBoutillier, J.C., and Petit, T.L. (1997) Altered NMDA sensitivity and learning following chronic developmental NMDA antagonism. Physiology and Behavior, 62: 955-962.
Goodwin, S.W., Henderson, Y., Stillar, A., Parr, A., and Weeks, A.C.W. Fear conditioning is associated with changes in synaptic number in the nucleus accumbens of the rat. Synapse (submitted).
Enaohwo, O., Henderson, Y., Parr, A., Goodwin, S., Stillar, A, and Weeks, A.C.W. Onset of maternal behaviour is associated with change in synaptic compliment in the medial preoptic area of the hypothalamus. Neuroscience (submitted).