Physiology and perception in Drosophila olfaction

感知需要大脑。然而，神经元的处理是多层次和平行的--提出了这样一个问题：沿着这些处理阶段，生理活动模式在哪里确实决定了知觉。这就是这项提议的主题，在果蝇的嗅觉生理学和知觉的场合。首先，气味之间的“感知距离”是通过一系列气味识别实验来近似计算的。其次，利用光学成像技术，我们在嗅觉通路的不同阶段测量气味诱导的活动模式，并得出每个部位的“生理距离”分数。这使我们能够测试各个部位的生理距离分数是否可以预测感知距离--就像行为测试一样。具体地说，我们询问(I)感觉神经元、投射神经元和蘑菇体中的生理活动模式对于行为相似性判断的相对重要性，以及(Ii)生理活动模式和/或行为相似性判断是否可以通过经验来修改。这些实验将提供嗅觉生理学和知觉之间关系的全面图景--从行为上来说。

Perception requires the brain. However, neuronal processing is multi-layered and parallel- posing the question where along these processing stages physiological activity patterns indeed determine perception. This is the topic of this proposal, on occasion of olfactory physiology and perception in Drosophila. First, ‘perceiveddistance’ between odours is approximated by a series of odour recognition experiments. Second, using optical imaging we measure odour-induced activity patterns at various stages of the olfactory pathway and derive, for each site, a ‘physiological-distance’ score. This allows us to test whether the physiological distance scores at the respective sites can predict perceived distance- as assayed behaviourally. Specifically, we ask (i) for the relative significance of physiological activity patterns in sensory neurons, projection neurons and mushroom bodies for behavioural similarity judgements, and (ii) whether physiological activity patterns and/ or behavioural similarity judgements are modifiable by experience. These experiments will provide a comprehensive picture of the relation between olfactory physiology and perception- behaviourally conceived.