2019-2020 Faculty Research Grants
Benjamin Navia (Biology)
Control of Phonotaxis in Female Cricket Acheta Domesticus by Call Selective Neuronal Processing and Molecular Regulation: The Role of First Order Neurons in the Prothoracic Ganglion and the Effect of Male Exposure
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 lab has extensively tested behavior in parallel with physiology of such identified auditory neurons. This approach has allowed us to strengthen our model of neural processing in a first order neuron, which influences selective phonotactic behavior in female crickets Acheta domesticus as demonstrated by our findings. 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 from those published by our lab, using A. 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 by evaluating two different components of the same neural circuit, validating our species as a model to be further investigated. There are experiments which remain to be completed with A. domesticus and we estimate the results will match those obtained with the European species. In addition, we intend to start evaluating molecular mechanisms, which may possibly affect the plasticity reported in the behavioral and neuronal responses. The methodology to this evaluation will be the same used before which requires the involvement of undergraduate students.