Neural basis of facial individual recognition in paper wasps

包括人类在内的动物的神经回路是自然选择适应的综合产物 以及一个物种的进化史区分神经回路的哪些特征代表 电路设计的基本原理与特定模型物种的怪癖需要比较 接近。神经回路设计和架构的特征已经独立进化多次 在远亲物种中，指示解决特定行为或认知问题的最佳解决方案的要素 问题.与此同时，神经系统的各个方面已经进化到促进新的行为， 对神经系统在保持功能的同时进行修改的过程的关键见解。这里我们 寻求资金来开发纸黄蜂，Polistes fuscatus，作为神经科学的模型系统。值得注意的是， 这些黄蜂利用面部个体识别来区分巢友。像灵长类动物一样，这些黄蜂 整体的面部视觉处理，并显示出面部识别的认知专业化。在许多方面， 纸蜂的社会行为比其他社会性昆虫更类似于合作繁殖的脊椎动物， 蜜蜂或蚂蚁。这些黄蜂代表了一个独立的进化专门面对处理相对 到灵长类动物，允许远距离之间的面部身份的神经编码的架构进行比较， 独立进化出眼睛和面部识别的相关群体。与此同时，我们最近的工作 表明在过去的几千年里，纸黄蜂的个体识别能力已经进化，这意味着， 我们有一个难得的机会来了解复杂社会行为背后的神经回路是如何产生的， 祖先的能力。我们提出了一种多管齐下的方法，利用现代工具， 神经科学将使我们能够迅速开始描述黄蜂面部的神经编码。(Aim第一章 我们将利用我们在单细胞基因组方法方面的专业知识来确定黄蜂体内的细胞类型 大脑参与面部处理和个体识别。(Aim 2）我们将建立在初步数据， 多通道电生理记录，以检查黄蜂面部识别的神经编码 个脑袋这两种方法可以很容易地应用于非模式物种，如纸黄蜂，并提供了一个 建立纸黄蜂作为社会神经科学研究模型的直接和直接的前进道路 识别. (Aim 3）我们将致力于筛选和优化用于在纸黄蜂中表达转基因的病毒载体。 用于记录和操纵神经元的基因编码工具的病毒载体现在在人类中很常见。 模式和非模式脊椎动物，但在昆虫中罕见。确定哪些载体在黄蜂中起作用， 开放一系列可能的实验，并将随时与科学界分享。纸 黄蜂在一个小的大脑中完成了非常复杂和复杂的社会行为-投资于他们的 作为一个模型系统的发展将有助于揭示神经系统管理社会的基本原则， 行为

The neural circuits of animals, including humans, are the combined product of adaptation by natural selection and the evolutionary history of a species. Distinguishing which features of neural circuits represent fundamental principles of circuit design versus the quirks of a particular model species requires comparative approaches. Features of neural circuit design and architecture that have evolved independently multiple times in distantly related species indicate elements of optimal solutions to solving a particular behavioral or cognitive problem. At the same time, aspects of neural systems that have evolved to facilitate novel behavior provide key insights into the process by which neural systems can be modified while maintaining function. Here we seek funding to develop the paper wasp, Polistes fuscatus, as a model system in neuroscience. Remarkably, these wasp uses facial individual recognition to differentiate among nestmates. Like primates, these wasps use holistic visual processing of faces and show cognitive specializations for facial recognition. In many respects, paper wasp social behavior is more similar to cooperatively breeding vertebrates than other social insects like honey bees or ants. These wasps represent an independent evolution of specialized face processing relative to primates, allowing for comparisons of the architecture of neural encoding of facial identity between distantly related groups that have independently evolved eyes and facial recognition. At the same time, our recent work shows that individual recognition has evolved in paper wasps within the last few thousand years meaning that we have a rare opportunity to understand how neural circuits underlying complex social behavior have arisen from ancestral abilities. We propose a multi-pronged approach that takes advantage of modern tools in neuroscience that will allow us to rapidly begin to characterize the neural encoding of faces in wasps. (Aim 1) We will leverage our expertise in single cell genomic approaches to identify which cell types within the wasp brain are involved in facial processing and individual recognition. (Aim 2) We will build on preliminary data from multi-channel electrophysiological recordings to examine the neural encoding of facial recognition in the wasp brain. These two approaches can be readily applied to non-model species such as paper wasps and provide a direct and immediate path forward for establishing paper wasps as a model for neuroscience studies of social recognition. (Aim 3) We will work to screen and optimize viral vectors for transgene expression in paper wasps. Viral vectors of genetically encoded tools for recording and manipulating neurons are now commonplace in model and non-model vertebrates, but rare in insects. Identifying which vectors work in wasps will immediately open a wide range of possible experiments and will be readily shared with the scientific community. Paper wasps accomplish remarkably sophisticated and complex social behavior in a small brain – investing in their development as a model system will help uncover fundamental principles of neural systems governing social behavior.