NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2021: Neural integration of acoustic signals across reproductive states

这一行动资助了2020财年NSF生物学博士后研究奖学金，扩大了生物学领域代表性不足群体的参与。该研究金支持一项针对该研究员的研究和培训计划，该计划将增加生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。这项研究考察了生殖状态如何影响大脑处理对社会决策至关重要的听觉信号的方式。动物通信信号由大量的声音元素组成，这些声音元素随着时间的推移而迅速变化。这些听觉元素在一种动物身上的变化会显著影响另一种动物对该动物行为的反应。这个项目将更好地理解荷尔蒙如何改变神经元整合声音的方式，从而推动动物的选择，并最终推动社会行为。该研究员还将通过资源开发和与残疾人的接触来扩大参与。青蛙是声学专家，他们使用这些信号来做出对它们的生存至关重要的决定。特别是，Cope的灰色树蛙(Hyla Chrysoscelis)通过大型合唱进行交流，雌性利用光谱变化、时间模式和空间线索来区分物种并做出交配选择。这个项目测试了激素通过调节半圆环(TS，与下丘同源的中脑区)中的神经元活动来调节这种行为反应的假设，这是一个对感觉整合很重要的区域。这项工作将采用一系列电生理实验来研究TS神经元的感觉加工。首先，这个项目将研究随着时间的推移，女性在听到男性信号时的声音整合机制。其次，该项目将研究雌激素对这种声学整合的急性影响，预测雌激素治疗将导致神经元反应的状态依赖调制，这将推动雌性交配决定。这项工作的一个主要组成部分是为残疾学生创造科学学习和创造力的机会，并开发工具来增强他们在STEM实验室的体验。这一奖学金将使罗德里格斯-圣地亚哥博士能够实现她的博士后培训和职业发展目标，同时扩大残疾学生对科学的参与和包容。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2020, Broadening Participation of Groups Under-represented in Biology. The Fellowship supports a research and training plan for the Fellow that will increase the participation of groups underrepresented in biology. This work examines how reproductive state affect the way in which the brain processes auditory signals important for social decision making. Animal communication signals comprise a large number of sound elements which change rapidly over time. How these auditory elements change in one animal can significantly influence how another animal responds to that animal’s behavior. This project will generate a greater understanding of how hormones modify the way neurons integrate sounds in order to drive animal choice, and, ultimately, social behavior. The Fellow will also broaden participation through resource development and outreach to individuals with disabilities. Frog species are acoustic specialists that use these signals to make decisions important for their survival. In particular, Cope’s grey treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) communicates in large choruses, where females exploit spectral variation, temporal patterning, and spatial cues to differentiate between species and make mating choices. This project tests the hypothesis that hormones modulate this behavioral response by regulating neuronal activity in the torus semicircularis (TS, midbrain area homologous to the inferior colliculus), a region important for sensory integration. This work will employ a series of electrophysiological experiments to investigate the sensory processing of neurons in the TS. First, this project will examine the mechanisms of acoustic integration over time in females as they listen to male signals. Second, the project will examine the acute effects of estrogen on such acoustic integration, with the prediction that estrogen treatment will result in state-dependent modulations of neuronal responses that will drive female mating decisions. A major component of this work is creating opportunities for scientific learning and creativity for students with disabilities in addition to developing tools to enhance their experience in STEM labs. This fellowship will allow Dr. Rodriguez-Santiago to fulfill her postdoctoral training and career development goals while broadening the participation and inclusion of students with disabilities in science.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.