Model Systems in Neuroethology

神经行为学模型系统

基本信息

批准号：
2114264
负责人：
Kenneth Catania
金额：
$ 45万
依托单位：
Vanderbilt University
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Continuing Grant
财政年份：
2021
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2021-08-15 至 2026-07-31
项目状态：
未结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2114264&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Model Systems Neuroethology

项目摘要

Investigations of specialized species often lead to important advances in neurobiology and serve as vehicles for communicating basic principles of nervous system function in our classrooms and to the public. This project will continue to investigate the evolutionary origins of the prey control behaviors using a comparative approach focusing on specialized animals, including electric eels, electric catfish, and parasitoid wasps, and the water opossum combining detailed observations of behavior and peripheral sensory structures with exploration of the related brain specializations that allow extreme animals to behave and survive. There are two overarching goals of these studies. The first is to solve general problems of brain function, animal behavior, and evolution that may apply across species and therefore inform us broadly about the animal kingdom, of which humans are a part. The second is to learn about the more specific and often unique abilities of extreme species. The latter goal informs us about the limits of evolution and inspires a sense of wonder and appreciation for the animals that share our planet. The PI will engage in a number of activities to bring the process of discovery to students, inspiring the next generation of scientists. The PI will continue to participate in diverse public outreach, ranging from K-12 presentations, the Vanderbilt Minority Access to Research Careers Program, Vanderbilt’s Brain Blast event for children and parents, the Neuroscience Extravaganza for graduate students, and invited interviews and podcasts.There are three main focuses of this research project: 1) Investigation of the newly discovered stings in the emerald jewel wasp (Ampulex compressa). 2) Further investigation of the extraordinary sensory and predatory aspects of strongly electric fish, including the electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) and new studies of the strongly electric catfish (Malapterurus electricus). 3) Conducting exploratory studies of the water opossum (Chironectes minimus) sensory biology with a focus on its specialized hands. For the first set of studies in jewel wasps—a newly discovered suite of stings into the 2nd thoracic ganglion will be investigated with the goal of further characterizing how the wasp’s venom sequentially controls cockroach behavior to facilitate oviposition and hence reproduction. Data will be collected by recording extracellular action potentials from motor neurons that control femur extension in a restrained roach preparation that is being stung by the wasp. These data will set the stage for investigating venom composition that may include excitatory neurotransmitters (e.g. acetylcholine). In the case of electric eels, we will investigate defensive responses and pursue preliminary data from the last grant period that suggests eels may have a form of “terrestrial” electroreception, during which they assess the resistance of their target during the recently discovered “leaping defense”. We will also investigate and compare the behaviors and abilities of strongly electric catfish with those of the electric eel. The African electric catfish evolved its electrical output independently from the eel, but it may use similar strategies to control the efferents of prey. If so, this would be a remarkable example of convergent evolution. Finally, exploratory studies of the water opossum in fixed museum specimens will explore the sensory specializations of the their unique hands and lay the groundwork for potential future investigation of their brains and behavior. These three aims balance exploratory components with ongoing and less risky investigations, consistent with the spirit of the research line, aimed at diverse model systems in neuroethology.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.

对专业物种的调查通常会导致神经生物学的重要进展，并作为在我们的课堂和公众中传达神经系统功能基本原理的工具。该项目将继续使用针对专业动物的比较方法来研究猎物控制行为的进化起源，包括电力鳗，电cat鱼和寄生虫黄蜂，以及结合了对行为和周围感觉结构的详细观察的水负鼠，并探索极端动物的相关大脑专长，可以表现和生存。这些研究有两个总体目标。首先是解决可能适用于物种的大脑功能，动物行为和进化的一般问题，因此广泛地告知我们人类是其中一部分的动物界。第二个是了解极端物种的更具体，通常是独特的能力。后来的目标向我们介绍了进化的局限性，并激发了分享我们星球的动物的惊奇和欣赏感。 PI将进行许多活动，以将发现过程带给学生，从而激发下一代科学家。 PI将继续参加潜水员的公共宣传活动，从K-12演讲，范德比尔特少数群体获得研究职业计划，范德比尔特为儿童和父母的大脑爆炸活动，神经科学盛大的研究生，邀请访谈和播客。 Compressa）。 2）进一步研究强烈的电鱼的非凡感觉和掠食性方面，包括电鳗（电动电动电气）和强烈的电cat鱼（Malapterurus electricus）的新研究。 3）对水负鼠（Chironectes Minimus）感觉生物学进行探索性研究，重点是其专门手。对于珠宝黄蜂的第一组研究，将研究一套新发现的刺痛套件，以进一步表征黄蜂的毒液顺序控制蟑螂的行为，以使产卵和复制。将通过记录来自运动神经元的细胞外动作电位来收集数据，这些电元在受约束的蟑螂制剂中控制股骨伸展的运动神经元。这些数据将为研究可能包括运动神经递质（例如乙酰胆碱）的毒液组成奠定阶段。对于电鳗，我们将调查上一个赠款期的防御性反应和购买初步数据，这表明鳗鱼可能具有“陆地”电动感受的形式，在此期间，他们在最近发现的“跳跃防御”期间评估了目标的抵抗力。我们还将调查和比较强烈的cat鱼的行为和能力与电鳗的行为和能力。非洲电猫鱼独立于鳗鱼发展其电气输出，但它可能会使用类似的策略来控制猎物的效果。如果是这样，这将是收敛进化的一个非凡例子。最后，对固定博物馆标本中水负鼠的探索性研究将探索其独特的手的感官专业，并为潜在的大脑和行为投资提供了基础。这三个目的平衡了探索性组成部分与持续不断的风险投资，这与研究线的精神一致，旨在针对神经心理学的潜水模型系统。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是通过基金会的知识分子和更广泛影响的审查标准通过评估来通过评估来获得的支持。