Computational Models for Neuroendocrine Control of Social Behavior

已知神经肽调节来自所有脊椎动物纲的代表性物种的社会行为。 然而，行为的物种差异使得开发明确的机制模型变得困难。 本计画结合实地实验与计算模型来探讨行为机制的复杂性。 现场研究解决了重要的新问题，神经肽调制的女性亲和行为。基于代理的模型的合成实验允许探索在实证测试中不切实际或不可能的条件。 这些模型有望提出神经肽控制行为的新机制。 因此，该项目实现了一个紧密的实验模型实验循环，并开发了一个新的范式系统生物学方法来理解社会行为。 神经肽可以改变多种脊椎动物的社会行为，包括亲代行为、攻击行为和生殖行为。 具体来说，该项目将确定催产素对灰色树蛙雌性趋声性的影响，随后将开发一个可以预测神经肽如何影响社会行为的趋声性计算模型。然后将在自然条件下对该模型进行测试以进行验证。 这些研究的结果将大大推进我们对神经肽对女性行为可塑性影响的理解。该项目还包括一个重要的培训组成部分，参与本科野外生物学班（占30%的代表性不足的少数民族），并在独特的跨学科环境中培训博士后研究员和研究生。 此外，将开发一门关于行为科学建模方法的新课程。

Neuropeptides are known to regulate social behaviors in representative species from all vertebrate classes. Species differences in behavior, however, have made development of clear mechanistic models difficult. This project investigates the complexity of behavioral mechanisms using a combination of field experiments and computational models. Field studies address important emerging questions on neuropeptide modulation of female affiliative behaviors. Synthetic experiments with agent-based models allow exploration of conditions impractical or impossible in empirical tests. The models are expected to propose new mechanisms for neuropeptide control of behavior. This project thus implements a tight experiment-model-experiment loop and develops a new paradigm for a systems biology approach to understanding social behavior. Neuropeptides can alter a variety of vertebrate social behaviors, including parental, aggressive, and reproductive behaviors. Specifically, this project will determine the effects of vasotocin on female phonotaxis in gray treefrogs and subsequently a computational model for phonotaxis that can make predictions as to how neuropeptides influence social behavior will be developed. This model will then be tested under natural conditions for verification. Results from these studies will significantly advance our understanding of the effect of neuropeptides on female behavioral plasticity. This project also includes a significant training component, with involvement of an undergraduate field biology class (populated with 30% under-represented minorities) and training of a post-doctoral fellow and graduate student in a unique inter-disciplinary environment. In addition, a new course on modeling approaches to behavioral sciences will be developed.