Neural Mechanisms of Olfactory Responses to Salamander Courtship Pheromones

信息素是一种由一个个体产生的化学物质，它将信息传递给同一物种的其他个体。这种形式的化学交流可以唤起神经效应，产生即时的行为反应，或者通过内分泌和生殖系统引起延迟的生理反应。虽然大部分工作都是在无脊椎动物身上进行的，但信息素在包括人类在内的其他物种中也是重要的信号。Houck博士提供了大量关于雌性暴露于雄性释放的信息素后的行为/社会变化的信息。有了这个职业发展奖，她将通过确定大脑中的单个细胞如何对这些信息素作出反应来扩展她的行为研究。通过学习复杂的神经生理学技术，霍克博士将研究人们感知自然气味的机制，并确定某些个体释放的信息素是否能更有效地引起雌性的生理反应。她的方法结合了生理反应的研究和对影响行为反应的化学线索的进化解释。信息素研究在非侵入性控制破坏美国农作物的各种害虫种群方面发挥着重要作用。此外，这些类型的研究所取得的进展正被用于确定国内种群排卵接近的微妙线索，从而允许更精确地进行人工授精，从而大大提高育种效率。

Pheromones are a chemical substance produced by one individual that conveys information to other individuals of the same species. This form of chemical communication can evoke neural effects that produce immediate behavioral responses or act through the endocrine and reproductive systems to cause delayed physiological responses. While much of this work has been carried out using invertebrates, pheromones are important signals in other species, including humans. Dr. Houck has generated a wealth of information about the behavioral/social changes in females exposed to pheromones released by males. With this Career Advancement Award, she will extend her behavioral work by determining how individual cells in the brain respond to these pheromones. By learning sophisticated neurophysiological techniques, Dr. Houck will examine the mechanisms by which natural odors are perceived and determine whether pheromones released from certain individuals are more effective in eliciting a physiological response from females. Her approach combines the study of physiological reactions with an evolution interpretation of chemical cues that affect behavioral responses. Pheromonal research is playing an important role in the noninvasive control of various pest populations that destroy crops in America. In addition, advances made by these types of studies are being used to identify the subtle cues signalling the approach of ovulation in domestic stock, thus allowing more precise timing of artificial insemination, resulting in greatly increased breeding efficiency.