Processing in the Insect Brain to Deal with Barriers to Legged Locomotion

这个项目将检查构成昆虫大脑中一个叫做中央复合体的独特区域的神经回路。这个大的中线脑区由几个亚单位组成，每个亚单位都有柱状解剖结构。构成这些列的重复单元为理解潜在的神经回路提供了独特的机会。它们似乎参与处理大量的感官信息，然后用它来影响运动。一系列电生理技术将被用来研究中枢复杂电路如何处理由天线刺激和视觉线索引起的机械信息。与行为技术相结合，中枢复杂处理将与实际动作相关。这些结果对于理解大脑系统如何影响更直接的局部反射回路至关重要，这些反射回路直接控制着昆虫在胸神经节中发现的行走、转弯和攀爬等腿部运动。他们将补充来自其他几个实验室的神经遗传学技术在运动控制方面的最新进展。事实上，由于高级大脑系统和局部反射之间的类似相互作用存在于几乎所有的有腿动物中，包括脊椎动物，因此研究结果将产生广泛的神经生物学影响。此外，PI长期致力于将生物系统的知识引入有腿机器人的设计中。因此，该项目还将带来更先进的机器人，这些机器人可以在不需要驾驶员指导的情况下，在曲折的地形上自主移动。该项目将继续培养研究生和本科生的成功记录。学生将有机会直接与高级实验室人员一起研究该项目，更多的学生将参加一门新颖的顶点课程，该课程将本科生生物学家和工程师聚集在一起，进行与该研究相关的长达一个学期的项目。

This project will examine neural circuits that make up a unique region of the insect brain called the central complex. This large midline brain region is made up of several subunits that each has a columnar anatomy. The repeating units that make up these columns provide a unique opportunity for understanding the underlying neural circuitry. They appear to be involved in processing large amounts of sensory information, then using it to influence movement. A range of electrophysiological techniques will be used to examine how central complex circuits process mechanical information arising from antennal stimulation as well as visual cues. In conjunction with behavioral techniques, central complex processing will be related to actual movements. The results are critical to the understanding of how brain systems influence more immediate local reflex circuits that directly control leg movements in walking, turning and climbing which in insects are found in thoracic ganglia. They will complement recent advances in motor control stemming from neurogenetic techniques from several other laboratories. Indeed, because similar interactions between higher brain systems and local reflexes exist in virtually all legged animals, including vertebrates, the results will have wide ranging neurobiological impact. Moreover, the PI has a long-term commitment to bringing knowledge of biological systems to the design of legged robots. As such, the project should also lead to more advanced robots that can move autonomously through tortuous terrain with less direction from a driver. The project will continue a successful record of training both graduate and undergraduate students. Students will have the opportunity to work directly with senior laboratory personnel on the project and a larger number of students will take part in a novel capstone course that brings together undergraduate biologists and engineers on semester-long projects related to this research.