Computational Models for Neuroendocrine Control of Social Behavior

已知神经肽在所有脊椎动物纲的代表性物种中调节社会行为。然而，物种行为的差异使得开发明确的机制模型变得困难。这个项目使用现场实验和计算模型相结合的方法来研究行为机制的复杂性。实地研究解决了关于女性附属行为的神经肽调节的重要新问题。使用基于代理的模型进行的合成实验允许在经验测试中探索不切实际或不可能的条件。这些模型有望为神经肽控制行为提供新的机制。因此，这个项目实现了一个紧密的实验-模型-实验循环，并为理解社会行为的系统生物学方法开发了一种新的范式。神经肽可以改变脊椎动物的各种社会行为，包括亲代、攻击性和生殖行为。具体地说，这个项目将确定血管催产素对灰色树蛙雌性趋音性的影响，随后将开发一个趋音性计算模型，可以预测神经肽如何影响社会行为。然后将在自然条件下对该模型进行测试以进行验证。这些研究的结果将极大地促进我们对神经肽对女性行为可塑性影响的理解。该项目还包括一个重要的培训部分，包括一个本科生实地生物学班(有30%的少数民族人数不足)，以及在独特的跨学科环境中培训一名博士后研究员和研究生。此外，还将开发一门关于行为科学建模方法的新课程。

Neuropeptides are known to regulate social behaviors in representative species from all vertebrate classes. Species differences in behavior, however, have made development of clear mechanistic models difficult. This project investigates the complexity of behavioral mechanisms using a combination of field experiments and computational models. Field studies address important emerging questions on neuropeptide modulation of female affiliative behaviors. Synthetic experiments with agent-based models allow exploration of conditions impractical or impossible in empirical tests. The models are expected to propose new mechanisms for neuropeptide control of behavior. This project thus implements a tight experiment-model-experiment loop and develops a new paradigm for a systems biology approach to understanding social behavior. Neuropeptides can alter a variety of vertebrate social behaviors, including parental, aggressive, and reproductive behaviors. Specifically, this project will determine the effects of vasotocin on female phonotaxis in gray treefrogs and subsequently a computational model for phonotaxis that can make predictions as to how neuropeptides influence social behavior will be developed. This model will then be tested under natural conditions for verification. Results from these studies will significantly advance our understanding of the effect of neuropeptides on female behavioral plasticity. This project also includes a significant training component, with involvement of an undergraduate field biology class (populated with 30% under-represented minorities) and training of a post-doctoral fellow and graduate student in a unique inter-disciplinary environment. In addition, a new course on modeling approaches to behavioral sciences will be developed.