About

About Us

Biting. Lapping. Chewing. Swallowing.

We study how animals feed and drink.

Feeding and drinking are essential behaviors that are not only critical to survival but also key to how animals interact with their environment. We study what makes these behaviors possible - from the movements that contribute to ingestion, mastication, drinking, and swallowing to the motor and sensory systems that are needed to control these and other associated behaviors. We also study the anatomy involved in feeding and drinking, and how evolution and growth influence behavior, function, and performance.

Why feeding and drinking? Feeding and drinking are behaviors that rely on complex motor coordination for success. Failure to coordinate the movements of the structures that control how food or liquid is handled from ingestion to swallow can cause severe injury. While breaking a tooth and biting the tongue are unpleasant, failure to coordinate the swallow with respiration can lead to long-term health issues, or even death. The fact that we mostly eat and drink without significant effort is amazing, especially given that from ingestion to swallow, more than 30 pairs of muscles must be coordinated.

The Williams Lab at Ohio University

Our lab is in the Department of Biomedical Sciences within the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM). We affiliate with multiple institutes at Ohio University, including the Ohio Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Studies and the Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute.

Susan H. Williams, PhD, lab Principal Investigator, is a Professor of Anatomy in OU-HCOM and graduate faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences Biological Sciences Graduate Program.

Meet Our Team

Our Research Approach

We use traditional and non-traditional animal models to understand the physiology and biomechanics of feeding and other oral behaviors.

Structure

We use gross dissection and imaging to study the anatomy of the head. For imaging, (micro)computed tomography and diceCT are tools that are essential for understanding the anatomy of the cranial system from temporomandibular joint morphology to the architecture of muscles. Comparative anatomy is also key for understanding the evolution and ontogeny of structure-function relationships.

Function

Experimental approaches enable us to understand how biomechanical and functional integrity is achieved (or not) during feeding and drinking in vivo. We use electromyography to characterize muscle contraction patterns and coordination. XROMM allows for studying the kinematics of feeding structures in 3 dimensions through time. Other tools and methodologies also measure forces produced by muscles, and respiratory patterns.

Lab Policy

Be kind.

Ask questions.

Work hard.

Have fun.

Mentoring

My approach to mentoring is highly individualized, but I stick to a few basic principles: 1) My primary role is to support you on your path to independence. 2) Support comes in many different flavors, but mutual respect and open communication are key. 3) If you work hard, I will just as hard, if not harder, to support you.