2017-2018 Faculty Research Grants
Benjamin Navia and John Stout (Biology)
Control of female cricket (Acheta domesticus) phonotaxis by call selective neuronal processing and molecular regulation
The recognition of a male’s call by female crickets and resulting orientation towards these calls (phonotaxis) illuminates the roles that identified neurons play in controlling behavior. To further our understanding of the neural dynamics and their effects on the resulting phonotaxis, our group has extensively tested behavior in parallel with the physiology of such identified auditory neurons. This approach has allowed us to strengthened our model of neural processing in a first order neuron, which influences selective phonotactic behavior in female crickets A. domesticus. The European cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus has been foundational in developing a powerful model of behavioral control - many of the studies were done in European labs using this species. The reports in the literature are frequently focused on different mechanisms/models from those published by our lab, using Acheta domesticus. However, by carrying out experiments in both species evaluating behavior and physiology of homolog auditory neurons, we have been able to demonstrate similarities in the neural mechanisms that influence behavior, validating our species as a model to be further investigated. There are experiments which remain to be completed with A. domesticus and we hypothesize the results will match those obtained with the European species. In addition, we intend to start evaluating possible molecular mechanisms which may affect the plasticity reported in the behavioral and neuronal responses.