High-throughput measurement of visuomotor control for complex movement

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A key role of the brain is to control movement. Because most neuroscience research occurs in restricted preparations, there is a gap in our understanding of the control of complex motions required for free movement. Maneuverability is critical for survival, and susceptible to disease, injury, and ageing. What behaviour is likely to provide the greatest insight into fundamental algorithms for complex motion control? Animals moving through water or on land are greatly assisted by passive stabilizing mechanisms of buoyancy and ground reaction, respectively. My laboratory focuses on flight because it requires precise control in all degrees of freedom. Most other groups taking this approach work with fruit flies because of molecular tools available to manipulate their nervous system. However, fly brains are too small to study outside of tethered preparations.