Neural Mechanisms of Action-Selection During Sensory Conflict

Información del proyecto

CourtEscape

Identificador del acuerdo de subvención: 101023536

DOI

10.3030/101023536

Proyecto cerrado

Fecha de la firma de la CE 26 Marzo 2021

Fecha de inicio 1 Septiembre 2022

Fecha de finalización 31 Agosto 2024

Financiado con arreglo a

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Coste total

€ 212 933,76

Aportación de la UE

€ 212 933,76

Coordinado por

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
United Kingdom

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

Período documentado: 2022-09-01 hasta 2024-08-31

Resumen del contexto y de los objetivos generales del proyecto

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.

Trabajo realizado desde el comienzo del proyecto hasta el final del período abarcado por el informe y los principales resultados hasta la fecha

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.

Avances que van más allá del estado de la técnica e impacto potencial esperado (incluida la repercusión socioeconómica y las implicaciones sociales más amplias del proyecto hasta la fecha)

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