High-throughput measurement of visuomotor control for complex movement

大脑的一个关键作用是控制运动。因为大多数神经科学研究都是在受限的准备中进行的，所以我们对自由运动所需的复杂运动的控制的理解存在差距。机动性对生存至关重要，而且容易受到疾病、伤害和衰老的影响。什么行为可能为复杂运动控制的基本算法提供最大的洞察力？在水中或陆地上移动的动物分别得到浮力和地面反应的被动稳定机制的极大帮助。我的实验室专注于飞行，因为它需要在所有自由度上进行精确控制。大多数其他采用这种方法的小组对果蝇进行研究，因为可以利用分子工具来操纵它们的神经系统。然而，苍蝇的大脑太小，无法在拴系的准备之外进行研究。

A key role of the brain is to control movement. Because most neuroscience research occurs in restricted preparations, there is a gap in our understanding of the control of complex motions required for free movement. Maneuverability is critical for survival, and susceptible to disease, injury, and ageing. What behaviour is likely to provide the greatest insight into fundamental algorithms for complex motion control? Animals moving through water or on land are greatly assisted by passive stabilizing mechanisms of buoyancy and ground reaction, respectively. My laboratory focuses on flight because it requires precise control in all degrees of freedom. Most other groups taking this approach work with fruit flies because of molecular tools available to manipulate their nervous system. However, fly brains are too small to study outside of tethered preparations.