Comparative Analysis of Identified Neurons & Behavior

神经科学的一个重要总体目标是理解控制行为的大脑回路的设计原理，昆虫为理解大脑回路提供了理想的模型。他们的大脑由相对较少的细胞组成，而且他们有明确的行为模式。目前的研究项目将分析特定的脑细胞是如何组织成控制一组相关昆虫行为的功能电路的。对近亲物种大脑回路的比较将有助于理解大脑被自然界用来控制行为的一般原理。在NSF资助的之前的工作中，已经确定一些昆虫的特定脑细胞(DMIS)对捕食者的触角接触会触发回避反应。触角是在视觉引导下进行的，显然部分是由一种被称为“DCMD”的脑细胞引导的。初步证据表明，在一些昆虫中，DCMD充当视觉传感器，DMIS控制定向运动，因此作为一个整体，这些细胞形成一个电路，协调每种昆虫特有的定向运动行为。我们将测试一个特定的假设：这个回路的视觉感知部分在不同的昆虫中保持相当稳定，但该回路向运动系统传递信息的方式发生了变化，以适应每个物种不同的行为要求。这一假设将通过绘制细胞结构图，记录它们对一系列感觉线索的反应，以及记录它们在行为过程中如何发出信号来检验。这些细胞也将被选择性地灭活。在该项目期间，一群不同的学生将接受神经科学培训。最后，这些研究将为研究人员带来新的工具，如识别的脑细胞数据库，这些信息可以用来设计用于机器人应用的“生物启发”电路，以及建立人与机器之间的智能接口。

An important general aim of neuroscience is to understand the design principles of brain circuits that control behavior and insects provide ideal models for understanding brain circuitry. Their brains are comprised of relatively few cells, and they have well-defined behavior patterns. The present research project will analyze how specific brain cells are organized into functional circuits controlling behavior in a group of related insects. The comparison of brain circuits in closely related species will provide understanding of the general principles by which brains are engineered by nature to control behavior. In previous work funded by NSF, it was established that specific brain cells ("DMIs") of some insects trigger evasive responses to antennal contact from predators. The antennae are under visual guidance, apparently in part by a brain cell referred to as "DCMD". Preliminary evidence suggests that in some insects the DCMD acts as a visual sensor and the DMIs control directional movements so that as an ensemble these cells form a circuit to coordinate directional motor behaviors specific to each insect species. A specific hypotheses will be tested: that the visual sensing part of this circuit has remained fairly constant across different insects, but that the way in which the circuit delivers information to movement systems has changed to account for the differing behavioral requirements of each species. This hypothesis will be tested by mapping the structure of the cells, recording their responses to an array of sensory cues, and recording how they signal during behavior. The cells also will be selectively inactivated. A diverse group of students will receive neuroscience training during the project. Finally, the studies will lead to new tools such as a database of identified brain cells for researchers and this information could be used for designing "biologically inspired" circuits for applications in robotics and for building intelligent interfaces between people and machines.