Mechanisms of Magnetoreception

IBN：9724083 PI：菲利普斯有许多动物被认为使用地磁信息进行定向和导航行为，但可能负责磁检测的感觉机制的身份仍然很大程度上未知。 行为和神经生理学证据表明，可能有一个以上的磁感受机制。 本计画利用蝾螈作为研究磁归巢行为的模型系统，来描述和定位推定的磁感应机制。 涉及改变磁场和不同特定环境光的行为实验将用于确定磁效应是否可能作用于光感受器或直接作用于体内的某些磁敏感颗粒。 结果将是重要的，在提供一些答案，这个非常有争议的话题在感觉神经生物学。

IBN: 9724083 PI: PHILLIPS There are many animals believed to use geomagnetic information for orientation and navigation behavior, but the identity of the sensory mechanisms that might be responsible for magnetic detection remain largely unknown. Behavioral and neurophysiological evidence suggest that there may be more than one magnetoreceptive mechanism. This project utilizes salamanders as a model system for studying magnetic homing behavior, to characterize and localize putative magnetosensory mechanisms. Behavioral experiments involving altered magnetic fields and different particular environmental light will be used to determine whether a magnetic effect might act on photoreceptors or instead directly on some magnetically sensitive particles in the body. Results will be important in providing some answers for this very controversial topic in sensory neurobiology.