Characterization of state dependent differences in central complex activity and its influence on motor control in the praying mantis (Tenodera sinensis)

当动物在自然环境中航行时，它必须不断地处理障碍物，因为它寻找目标或避免捕食。这需要在局部控制反射、模式发生器和高级大脑中心之间进行丰富的相互作用。在脊髓或神经索水平产生的基本运动模式在大多数情况下不会提供允许动物在所有复杂地形中导航所需的敏捷性。为了引导运动并将其置于直接存在的内部和外部条件（例如照明，温度或饥饿）的背景下，动物依赖于复杂的感觉系统。显然，这需要一定程度的多感觉整合，而这种整合必须发生在中枢神经系统的某个地方。大量的神经发生学和电生理学数据表明，在昆虫中，这些功能主要存在于中央复合体（CX）中，这是所有节肢动物前脑中一组高度结构化的相互连接的中线神经柱。CX接收大量关于昆虫周围环境和自身生理状态的感官信息。多通道四极线植入CX的拴系或自由行走的蟑螂表现出明确的相关性，在个别神经元的活动和导航决策。最近的遗传，行为和生理数据的荟萃分析强烈建议，CX是同源的哺乳动物基底神经节，主要参与行为的选择和选择。然而，尽管许多实验室进行了深入的研究，CX的行为作用尚未最终确定。因此，我将研究CX回路中的活动如何影响昆虫在其周围环境或内部状态变化时的特定行为。为了实现这一目标，我建议检查多通道四极管记录在大脑中的螳螂，使用的技术，蟑螂CX开发，但现在已经适应使用密切相关的螳螂大脑。使用螳螂这样的捕食性昆虫，使我能够在实验操作之前准确预测昆虫会移动到哪里，或者将神经活动模式与精确的方向运动联系起来。它还提供了一个机会来测试一个假设，即与饥饿和饱腹感相关的神经调质通过CX电路的变化来改变跟踪行为。我将结合联合收割机多通道四极录音和高速视频分析来检查与跟踪和打击运动相关的中央复合体区域的神经活动模式。我相信，这些研究和由此产生的基于神经的模型将提供重要的见解，在功能的状态依赖控制。

When an animal navigates through its natural environment, it must constantly deal with barriers as it seeks out targets or avoids predation. This requires a rich interplay between local control reflexes, pattern generators, and higher brain centers. Basic locomotor patterns that are generated at the spinal or nerve chord level will in most cases not provide the agility necessary to allow the animal to navigate all complex terrain. To guide movements and place them in the context of immediately existing internal and external conditions (e.g. illumination, temperature or hunger) animals rely on sophisticated sensory systems. Clearly this requires a level of multi-sensory integration that must occur somewhere in the central nervous system. A considerable body of neurogenetic and electrophysiological data suggests that in insects these functions reside largely in the central complex (CX), a highly structured group of interconnected midline neuropils in the protocerebrum of all arthropods. The CX receives massive amounts of sensory information regarding the insects surroundings and its own physiological state. Multi-channel tetrode wires implanted in the CX of tethered or freely walking cockroaches demonstrated clear correlations between activity in individual neural units and navigational decisions. A recent meta-analysis of genetic, behavioral and physiological data strongly suggested that the CX is homologous to the mammalian basal ganglia which are primarily involved in behavioral choice and selection. However, despite intense research from many laboratories, the behavioral role of the CX has not been conclusively determined. Therefore I will examine how the activity in CX circuits influences specific behaviors as an insect experiences changes in its immediate surroundings or internal state. To accomplish this goal, I propose to examine multi-channel tetrode recordings in the brain of the praying mantis, using techniques that were developed for cockroach CX but have now been adapted for use in the closely related mantis brain. The use of a predatory insect like the praying mantis enables me to predict exactly where the insect would move to prior to experimental manipulation or relate patterns of neural activity to precise directional movements. It also affords the opportunity to test a hypothesis that neuromodulators associated with hunger and satiety alter stalking behavior through changes in CX circuitry. I will combine multi-channel tetrode recordings with high speed video analysis to examine patterns of neural activity in regions of the central complex associated with stalking and striking movements. I believe that these studies and the resulting neural based models will provide important insights in the functionality of state dependent control.