Neural Circuitry and Aerodynimcs of Flight Control

昆虫的飞行是一种复杂的行为，需要一系列的生理和形态特化。飞行行为为研究时间上精确的神经过程以及新的空气动力学机制提供了一个方便的系统。这项授予Michael Dickinson博士的研究侧重于昆虫在几个层面上的飞行控制分析：从识别出的神经元和肌肉的生理特性到翅膀的机械和由此产生的空气动力。这项工作将表征飞行控制行为中特定立体定型成分背后的神经电路和飞行力，该成分涉及在从下划桨到上划桨的转变过程中机翼的快速旋转，这是在转向操纵者过程中调节的。这个时间可能由特定的转向肌肉控制，它的输出被翅膀上感受器的快速感觉反馈以及从头部下降的视觉输入所改变。在控制刺激感觉通路的过程中，将通过运动神经元的细胞内记录来研究这一电路。还将测试肌肉刺激对机翼旋转的影响。飞行装置将配备扭矩天平，这样空气动力就可以与飞行运动时间的变化直接相关。这项研究将有助于理解快速感觉-运动处理和飞行的空气动力学机制。

Flight in insects is a sophisticated behavior which requires an array of physiological and morphological specializations. Flight behavior provides a convenient system for investigating temporally precise neural processes, as well as novel aerodynamic mechanisms. The research to be done under this award to Dr. Michael Dickinson focuses on the flight control of insects at several levels of analysis: from the physiological properties of identified neurons and muscles to the mechanics of wings and resultant production of aerodynamic forces. The work will characterize the neural circuitry and flight forces underlying a specific steroetyped component of flight control behavior which involves the rapid rotation of the wings during the transition from downstroke to upstroke which is modulated during turning manuevers. The timing may be controlled by a specific steering muscle whose output is modified by both rapid sensory feedback from receptors on the wings as well as visual input descending from the head. The circuitry will be studied by intracellular recording from motor neurons during controlled stimulation of sensory pathways. The effects of muscle stimulation on wing rotation will also be tested. The flight apparatus will be equipped with a torque balance, so that the aerodynamic forces can be directly correlated with changes in the timing of the flight locomotion. This research will contribute to the understanding of rapid sensory-motor processing and aerodynamic mechanisms of flight.