Active Sensation In Motor-control Of Flies

Informazioni relative al progetto

ASIMOF

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: 101003412

DOI

10.3030/101003412

Progetto concluso il 4 Dicembre 2021

Data della firma CE 15 Aprile 2020

Data di avvio 1 Novembre 2020

Data di completamento 31 Ottobre 2022

Finanziato da

• SPREADING EXCELLENCE AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION

Costo totale

€ 147 815,04

Contributo UE

€ 147 815,04

Coordinato da

FUNDACAO D. ANNA DE SOMMER CHAMPALIMAUD E DR. CARLOS MONTEZ CHAMPALIMAUD
Portugal

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ASIMOF (Active Sensation In Motor-control Of Flies)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2020-11-01 al 2022-10-31

Sintesi del contesto e degli obiettivi generali del progetto

Learning how simple nervous systems use active sensation and self-motion estimation in order to make sense of their environment and select situationally appropriate actions, or inaction, is an important topic in systems neuroscience. Many animals, including the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), structure their locomotion into a combination of straight runs and fast saccadic turns, and visual motion sensitive channels are required for this structure to remain intact.
The aim of this project was to study the behaviour and neural basis of how flies use this locomotory structure of straight runs and saccadic turns in order to explore their environment, and map out its relevant features, such as the presence of aversive thermal stimuli.

Lavoro eseguito dall’inizio del progetto fino alla fine del periodo coperto dalla relazione e principali risultati finora ottenuti

During the ASIMOF project we showed that when flies are exploring an environment consisting of a circular arena with aversively heated borders, they tend to stop exploring their environment after 6-7 minutes, followed by staying inactive for extended duration of time at the centre of the arena, i.e. the safest (coolest) location. This behaviour depends on visual sensory feedback, and more specifically on visual motion sensitive channels (T4/T5 neurons) that are also crucial for maintaining the normal structure of fly locomotion of straight runs and saccadic turns. Through an emerged collaboration, we also uncovered a small group of central neurons that appear to trigger saccade-like turns. Thirdly, we created computational analysis pipelines for useful for matching neurons across different neuroanatomy datasets

Measures to disseminate project results
Dissemination of the project was achieved by presenting the projects results at the Champalimaud internal seminars, through a potential co-publication of results stemming from a collaboration established during the project, and through publishing computational tools through the open-source platform of GitHub.

Measures to exploit the project results
Aside from the above ASIMOF generated a wealth of behavioural data and observations used as a basis for other projects in the Chiappe lab.

Progressi oltre lo stato dell’arte e potenziale impatto previsto (incluso l’impatto socioeconomico e le implicazioni sociali più ampie del progetto fino ad ora)

On a scientific level The ASIMOF project uncovered novel behavioural patterns in the fruit fly, and made advances in understanding the neural circuit basis triggering saccadic turns. On a personal career development level the project and skills and guidance received during the project enabled the grantee to advance to the next career stage, although we were unable to finish all of the intended aims of the project due to the pandemic and related early termination of the grant.

The socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far
ASIMOF was a basic research project, and its aims not directly applicable to areas such as healthcare or technology. However, its benefits are similar to other basic research: long-term economic growth requires novel discoveries, and it's often difficult or impossible to predict which areas of inquiry the impactful ones come from. Aside from working towards this goal, ASIMOF facilitated transfer of information and knowledge across borders of EU member countries.

Triggering Saccadic Turns