Understanding the neuronal mechanisms underlying emergence of adaptive behavior in insect

我们专注于雄性蟋蟀之间的攻击行为，以了解动物如何根据不断变化的环境改变自己的行为。生物胺调节多种行为的动机。我们的行为学和药理学研究表明，大脑中的章鱼胺引发了蟋蟀的攻击动机。为了更好地了解，我们一直在开发转基因技术来操纵大脑中的章鱼胺系统。我们确定了生物胺相关基因，包括章鱼胺、血清素、多巴胺和酪胺。我们还开发了一些遗传方法的工具。我们还开发了微型机器人系统来控制蟋蟀的攻击行为。该系统使我们可以用自由运动的动物进行电生理实验，预测雄蟋蟀之间的战斗结果。

We focused on the aggressive behavior between male crickets to understand how animals alter their behaviors on the demand of changing circumstances. Biogenic amines modulate motivation of many kinds of behaviors. In our behavior and pharmacological studies demonstrate that octopamine in the brain initiates aggressive motivation in the cricket. In order to get better understand, we have been developing transgenic technique to manipulate octopaminergic system in the brain. We identified biogenic amine related genes including octopamine, serotonin, dopamine and tyramine. We also developed some tools for genetic approaches. We also developed micro robot system to manipulate cricket aggressive behavior. This system makes us perform electrophysiological experiment using free moving animal with predicting the result of fight between male crickets.