RUI: Acoustic Detection in Free-Swimming Toadfish

RUI：自由游动蟾鱼的声学检测

• 批准号: 0316130
• 负责人: Allen Mensinger
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-09-01 至 2009-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0316130&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Acoustic; Detection; Free; Swimming

Neuroethology involves the study of brain mechanisms underlying behavior, but requirements for restraint and anesthesia for recording stability often have made it impossible to record activity of nerve cells while an animal is behaving normally in its environment. New advances in microelectrode recording and telemetry now are making such studies possible. The study here addresses the auditory sensitivity of a hardy teleost fish, the toadfish, which has been well studied for its sound production and hearing related to social and mating behavior. However, the specific parameters of the calls that guide female toadfish and mate selection under field conditions are poorly understood. The sound environment in shallow water is complex, and how females discriminate among sound sources is unclear. This project uses innovative novel technology and telemetry, including a multichannel 'sieve' electrode through which the auditory nerve has regenerated to allow long-term recording from single nerve fibers, and an implantable rechargeable radiotelemetry device. These experiments address physiological mechanisms underlying behavioral detection of underwater sound, detection and modulation of self-generated sound, and sound localization of relevant sources. There is some risk to this work given the technological and interpretive issues, but the potential impact is high. Results will be important beyond sensory neuroscience to neuroethology and animal behavior, and potentially to a variety of applications in engineering and robotics. This RUI activity will promote the career of a new PI who involves undergraduates, including Native Americans and other under-served groups, in an upper Midwest EPSCoR state in quality research, and who adds a unique opportunity for students to work in the summer at the outstanding facilities and educational center of the Marine Biological Laboratories in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

神经行为学涉及行为背后的大脑机制的研究，但记录稳定性所需的约束和麻醉通常使得当动物在其环境中表现正常时无法记录神经细胞的活动。 微电极记录和遥测技术的新进展使得此类研究成为可能。这项研究涉及一种耐寒的硬骨鱼——蟾蜍的听觉敏感性，蟾蜍的声音产生和与社会和交配行为相关的听力已被深入研究。然而，人们对野外条件下指导雌性蟾蜍的叫声和配偶选择的具体参数知之甚少。浅水区的声音环境复杂，雌性如何区分声源尚不清楚。该项目采用创新的新技术和遥测技术，包括多通道“筛”电极，听觉神经通过该电极再生，从而可以对单个神经纤维进行长期记录，以及可植入的可充电无线电遥测设备。这些实验解决了水下声音行为检测、自生声音的检测和调制以及相关源的声音定位的生理机制。鉴于技术和解释问题，这项工作存在一些风险，但潜在影响很大。 结果将超越感觉神经科学、神经行为学和动物行为，并可能对工程和机器人技术的各种应用都很重要。 这项 RUI 活动将促进一位新 PI 的职业生涯，该 PI 涉及中西部 EPSCoR 州北部的本科生，包括美洲原住民和其他服务不足的群体，从事质量研究，并为学生提供了一个在暑期在 RUI 工作的独特机会。位于马萨诸塞州伍兹霍尔的海洋生物实验室拥有一流的设施和教育中心。