Objective
Mate choice is a critical driving force in evolution yet the mechanisms underlying it remain poorly understood. Ultimately, mate selection requires the perception of specific cues that indicate the characteristics of prospective mates and a decision based on those cues. While a variety of studies have investigated the nature of sensory signals emitted by animals, very little is known about the downstream processes that underlie mate assessment. I hypothesize that mate relevant sensory cues are translated by the brain into a common set of variables that reflects the value of the mate emitting them and upon which a decision to mate or not is based. To pursue this hypothesis, my goal is to identify brain structures specifically involved in mate assessment. As potential candidates, I believe that Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone neurons in the hypothalamus can play a critical role in this behaviour, since these neurons control sexual behaviour and also receive information about both the internal state of the animal and the external environment. To pursue this project, my first aim is to establish a behavioural paradigm in which mate choice is stable and reproducible, using mice as model system. To do this, the value of two prospective mates will be controlled by manipulating differentially their genotype at Major Histocompatibility Complex or Major Urinary Proteins loci, which are known to influence mate preference in mice. The second aim is to identify brain regions involved in mate preference and selection. To do so, I will analyze the activation of Immediate Early Genes (IEG) that are reliable markers of neuronal activity, in the female brain during the mate choice assay. Fos immunoreactivity will first allow me to do an unbiased screen of the entire mouse brain. Second, by using cat-FISH (Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization) and exploring the temporal dynamics of two different IEG, Homer 1a and Arc, I will study the representation of mates with different values.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
1067-001 LISBOA
Portugal
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.