Decision making in insects: a parasitic wasp modulates behavior of its cockroach prey by targeting octopaminergic systems.

非人类动物，尤其是“低等”生物，如无脊椎动物，通常被视为复杂的“自动机”，对环境线索做出刻板的反应。然而，就像人类一样，现在已经很好地确定，这些动物可能会选择基于其“内部状态”开始行为，而不仅仅是对外部刺激的反应。这表明一个非随机的内源性决策过程，这意味着人类“自发”行为的先驱主题。然而，负责产生这种“内部状态”的神经元基础仍然难以捉摸。自然发生的现象，其中非人类动物的自发行为被操纵，可能有助于我们理解参与确定“内部状态”的大脑回路。在最近的一项研究中，我们提出了一种独特的自然发生的现象，其中寄生蜂使用神经毒素来操纵蟑螂猎物的决策，并显然“劫持”其自由意志。到目前为止，我们的研究指向一个可能的神经元基板参与这种操纵通过神经调质章鱼胺。这种被广泛研究的神经调质已被证明将运动活动与行为和代谢状态（如唤醒，饥饿或压力）联系起来。因此，我们将研究黄蜂如何干扰其蟑螂猎物的章鱼胺能系统以影响其内部状态并操纵决策过程，此次联合努力的目的是结合实验室的专业知识来探索这一问题（以色列Beer-Sheva），该公司研究黄蜂-蟑螂系统已有十多年，（柏林，德国），其专门研究昆虫神经调节性章鱼胺能神经元。

Non-human animals, and especially ‘lower’ organisms such as invertebrates, are often seen merely as complex ‘automatons’ that respond stereotypically to environmental cues. However, much like humans, it is now well established that such animals may choose to initiate behavior based on their "internal state", rather than as a response to external stimuli alone. This suggests a non-random endogenous process of decision making, which implies a precursor motif of human “spontaneous” behavior. The neuronal underpinnings responsible for generating this “internal state”, however, remain elusive.Naturally-occurring phenomena, in which spontaneous behavior of non-human animals is manipulated, may contribute to our understanding of the brain circuits involved in determining “internal states”. In a recent study we presented a unique and naturally-occurring phenomenon in which a parasitoid wasp uses neurotoxins to manipulate decision making in its cockroach prey and apparently ‘hijack’ its free will’. Our investigations so far point to one possible neuronal substrate involved in this manipulation via the neuromodulator octopamine. This extensively studied neuromodulator has been shown to link motor activity with behavioral and metabolic states such as arousal, hunger or stress. Therefore, we will examine how the wasp interferes with the octopaminergic system of its cockroach prey to influence its internal state and manipulate decision making processes.The purpose of this joint effort is to explore this issue by combining the expertise of the laboratory (Beer-Sheva, Israel), which has studied the wasp-cockroach system for more than a decade, with the expertise of the laboratory (Berlin, Germany), which specializes in the study of insect neuromodulatory octopaminergic neurons.