Neural Mechanisms of Action-Selection During Sensory Conflict

Project Information

CourtEscape

Grant agreement ID: 101023536

DOI

10.3030/101023536

Project closed

EC signature date 26 March 2021

Start date 1 September 2022

End date 31 August 2024

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 212 933,76

EU contribution

€ 212 933,76

Coordinated by

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
United Kingdom

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CourtEscape (Neural Mechanisms of Action-Selection During Sensory Conflict)

Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2024-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The CourtEscape project aimed to understand how male Drosophila melanogaster resolve sensory conflicts between reproduction and survival. Specifically, it focused on neural mechanisms involved in choosing between courtship behaviors and escaping threats. This addresses a fundamental question in behavioral neuroscience: how animals balance competing priorities, such as the need to reproduce versus avoiding predators. Understanding these mechanisms holds great value for society. It can lead to advancements in neuroscience applications across fields such as artificial intelligence, neurodegenerative disease research, and mental health by enhancing our knowledge of decision-making in the face of competing priorities.

The main objectives were:
- Objective 1: Identify neurons that determine whether male flies choose courtship or escape when presented with conflicting stimuli.
- Objective 2: Characterize neural circuitry mechanisms underpinning these action selections.
- Objective 3: Explore how environmental and internal state variables influence this choice.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Throughout the project, the CourtEscape team achieved several milestones:
- Identified Key Neurons: we discovered that Lobular Columnar (LC) neurons detect visual threats and initiate escape over courtship. LC neurons connect with serotonergic neurons (5-HTPMPD) to inhibit courtship behaviors when a threat is detected.
- Neurochemical Mechanisms: The role of serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine was central to the project. Serotonin was shown to inhibit courtship when a threat was present by acting through 5-HT receptors in specific courtship neurons, including the P1 cluster and plP10 neurons. Dopamine, on the other hand, was found to influence how flies prioritize reproduction as they progress through courtship.
-Behavioral Adaptations: CourtEscape revealed that males could ignore threats when competing for a mate, depending on their surroundings. This flexibility underscores how external factors, such as competition and mate availability, affect decision-making.

The project’s findings were disseminated through scientific publications, multiple international presentations, outreach events and a press release. One significant publication, "Mating Proximity Blinds Threat Perception", appeared in Nature, and outreach activities included presentations at events like the Birmingham Brain Awareness Week.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The project advances the understanding of action-selection in the brain, mapping the neural circuits that drive these decisions. CourtEscape has identified a dynamic model where male Drosophila prioritize between survival and reproduction based on context. This research goes beyond previous studies by detailing how the serotonin and dopamine pathways integrate environmental cues and internal states to mediate courtship and escape responses.

The results include a refined neural model for studying decision-making in organisms, which can influence future applications in neuroscience and artificial intelligence by providing insights into real-time decision-making processes. The potential socio-economic impacts lie in the fundamental knowledge gained, which may lead to applications in brain-computer interfaces and biocontrol. Society could benefit from such research as it deepens our understanding of the brain’s decision-making processes, potentially informing the development of treatments for neurological conditions and enhancing our knowledge in robotics and AI.

CourtEscape's paradigm and working model