RUI: Acoustic Detection in Free-Swimming Toadfish

神经行为学涉及对行为背后的大脑机制的研究，但为了记录稳定性，需要约束和麻醉，这往往使得当动物在其环境中正常行为时，不可能记录神经细胞的活动。微电极记录和遥测技术的新进展使这类研究成为可能。这里的研究解决了硬骨鱼的听觉敏感性，蟾鱼，它的声音产生和听觉与社会和交配行为有关，已经得到了很好的研究。然而，在野外条件下，指导雌性蟾蜍鱼和配偶选择的叫声的具体参数知之甚少。浅水环境声环境复杂，雌鱼如何区分声源尚不清楚。该项目采用了创新的技术和遥测技术，包括一个多通道“筛”电极，通过该电极听神经再生，可以从单个神经纤维中进行长期记录，以及一个可植入的可充电无线电遥测设备。这些实验研究了水下声音行为检测的生理机制、自生声音的检测和调制以及相关声源的声音定位。考虑到技术和解释问题，这项工作有一些风险，但潜在的影响很大。研究结果的重要意义将超越感觉神经科学，延伸到神经行为学和动物行为学，并可能在工程和机器人领域的各种应用。这项RUI活动将促进新PI的职业生涯，该PI将涉及中西部上游EPSCoR州的本科生，包括印第安人和其他服务不足的群体，进行质量研究，并为学生提供一个独特的机会，在马萨诸塞州伍兹霍尔海洋生物实验室的优秀设施和教育中心进行夏季工作。

Neuroethology involves the study of brain mechanisms underlying behavior, but requirements for restraint and anesthesia for recording stability often have made it impossible to record activity of nerve cells while an animal is behaving normally in its environment. New advances in microelectrode recording and telemetry now are making such studies possible. The study here addresses the auditory sensitivity of a hardy teleost fish, the toadfish, which has been well studied for its sound production and hearing related to social and mating behavior. However, the specific parameters of the calls that guide female toadfish and mate selection under field conditions are poorly understood. The sound environment in shallow water is complex, and how females discriminate among sound sources is unclear. This project uses innovative novel technology and telemetry, including a multichannel 'sieve' electrode through which the auditory nerve has regenerated to allow long-term recording from single nerve fibers, and an implantable rechargeable radiotelemetry device. These experiments address physiological mechanisms underlying behavioral detection of underwater sound, detection and modulation of self-generated sound, and sound localization of relevant sources. There is some risk to this work given the technological and interpretive issues, but the potential impact is high. Results will be important beyond sensory neuroscience to neuroethology and animal behavior, and potentially to a variety of applications in engineering and robotics. This RUI activity will promote the career of a new PI who involves undergraduates, including Native Americans and other under-served groups, in an upper Midwest EPSCoR state in quality research, and who adds a unique opportunity for students to work in the summer at the outstanding facilities and educational center of the Marine Biological Laboratories in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.