Model Systems in Neuroethology

专门物种的调查往往导致神经生物学的重要进展，并作为在我们的教室和公众中传达神经系统功能的基本原则的工具。该项目将继续研究猎物控制行为的进化起源，使用比较方法，重点关注专门的动物，包括电鳗，电鳗和寄生蜂，以及水负鼠，结合详细的行为观察和外周感觉结构，探索相关的大脑专业化，使极端动物的行为和生存。 这些研究有两个首要目标。第一个是解决可能适用于不同物种的大脑功能、动物行为和进化的一般问题，从而让我们广泛了解动物王国，人类也是其中的一部分。 第二是了解极端物种更具体、往往是独特的能力。 后一个目标告诉我们进化的局限性，并激发对共享我们星球的动物的好奇和欣赏。PI将参与一系列活动，将发现的过程带给学生，激励下一代科学家。PI将继续参与各种公共宣传活动，包括K-12演示，范德比尔特少数民族获得研究职业计划，范德比尔特为儿童和家长举办的Brain Blast活动，研究生神经科学盛会，以及邀请采访和播客。该研究项目有三个主要重点：1）对新发现的祖母绿宝石黄蜂（Ampulex compressa）蜇伤的调查。2)对强电鱼的非凡感官和捕食方面的进一步研究，包括电鳗（Electrophorus electricus）和对强电鱼（Malapterurus electricus）的新研究。 3)对水负鼠（Chironectes minimus）的感觉生物学进行探索性研究，重点是其专门的手。 对于第一组宝石黄蜂的研究-一个新发现的刺入第二胸神经节的套件将被调查，目的是进一步描述黄蜂的毒液如何顺序控制蟑螂的行为，以促进产卵，从而繁殖。 将通过记录来自运动神经元的细胞外动作电位来收集数据，所述运动神经元控制被黄蜂蜇伤的受限蟑螂制备物中的股骨伸展。 这些数据将为研究可能包括兴奋性神经递质（如乙酰胆碱）的毒液成分奠定基础。 在电鳗的情况下，我们将调查防御反应，并从最后一个赠款期，这表明鳗鱼可能有一种形式的“陆地”电感受，在此期间，他们评估他们的目标在最近发现的“跳跃防御”的阻力。 我们也将调查和比较的行为和能力的强电鲶鱼和电鳗。 非洲电鳗的电输出独立于鳗鱼进化而来，但它可能使用类似的策略来控制猎物的传出神经。 如果是这样的话，这将是趋同进化的一个显著例子。 最后，在固定的博物馆标本中对水负鼠进行的探索性研究将探索它们独特的手的感官专业化，并为未来可能对它们的大脑和行为进行的研究奠定基础。这三个目标平衡了探索性成分与正在进行的风险较低的调查，符合研究路线的精神，旨在神经行为学的多样化模型系统。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来支持。

Investigations of specialized species often lead to important advances in neurobiology and serve as vehicles for communicating basic principles of nervous system function in our classrooms and to the public. This project will continue to investigate the evolutionary origins of the prey control behaviors using a comparative approach focusing on specialized animals, including electric eels, electric catfish, and parasitoid wasps, and the water opossum combining detailed observations of behavior and peripheral sensory structures with exploration of the related brain specializations that allow extreme animals to behave and survive. There are two overarching goals of these studies. The first is to solve general problems of brain function, animal behavior, and evolution that may apply across species and therefore inform us broadly about the animal kingdom, of which humans are a part. The second is to learn about the more specific and often unique abilities of extreme species. The latter goal informs us about the limits of evolution and inspires a sense of wonder and appreciation for the animals that share our planet. The PI will engage in a number of activities to bring the process of discovery to students, inspiring the next generation of scientists. The PI will continue to participate in diverse public outreach, ranging from K-12 presentations, the Vanderbilt Minority Access to Research Careers Program, Vanderbilt’s Brain Blast event for children and parents, the Neuroscience Extravaganza for graduate students, and invited interviews and podcasts.There are three main focuses of this research project: 1) Investigation of the newly discovered stings in the emerald jewel wasp (Ampulex compressa). 2) Further investigation of the extraordinary sensory and predatory aspects of strongly electric fish, including the electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) and new studies of the strongly electric catfish (Malapterurus electricus). 3) Conducting exploratory studies of the water opossum (Chironectes minimus) sensory biology with a focus on its specialized hands. For the first set of studies in jewel wasps—a newly discovered suite of stings into the 2nd thoracic ganglion will be investigated with the goal of further characterizing how the wasp’s venom sequentially controls cockroach behavior to facilitate oviposition and hence reproduction. Data will be collected by recording extracellular action potentials from motor neurons that control femur extension in a restrained roach preparation that is being stung by the wasp. These data will set the stage for investigating venom composition that may include excitatory neurotransmitters (e.g. acetylcholine). In the case of electric eels, we will investigate defensive responses and pursue preliminary data from the last grant period that suggests eels may have a form of “terrestrial” electroreception, during which they assess the resistance of their target during the recently discovered “leaping defense”. We will also investigate and compare the behaviors and abilities of strongly electric catfish with those of the electric eel. The African electric catfish evolved its electrical output independently from the eel, but it may use similar strategies to control the efferents of prey. If so, this would be a remarkable example of convergent evolution. Finally, exploratory studies of the water opossum in fixed museum specimens will explore the sensory specializations of the their unique hands and lay the groundwork for potential future investigation of their brains and behavior. These three aims balance exploratory components with ongoing and less risky investigations, consistent with the spirit of the research line, aimed at diverse model systems in neuroethology.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.