Project description
Understanding the interconnection between neural computations and motion corrections
Organism task performance requires rapid correction of erroneous action based on current posture and behavioural goals. The mechanisms of control and coordination of these functions across the central nervous system remain unknown. The ERC-funded ECoFly project aims to study the circuits involved in movement monitoring as key intermediaries between motor planning and posture-dependent execution using the Drosophila melanogaster brain. Previous studies have identified a circuit that is sensitive to angular velocity and interconnected to the fly’s analogue of the spinal cord and higher-order brain areas. Using a combination of electron microscopy, behaviour, physiology, optogenetics, and modelling the current project will uncover the circuit mechanisms for course correction, establishing causal relationships between neural computations and movement.
Objective
To survive in natural habitats, animals move through space according to their goals. However, the uncertainties of the environment, alongside inevitable variations in neuromuscular signals, change the context in which a walking step occurs, leading to unintended movement. Thus, task performance can be jeopardized if the erroneous action is not rapidly corrected based on current posture and behavioral goals. How these aspects of control functions are implemented and coordinated across the Central Nervous System remains unknown. Here we propose studying the circuits involved in monitoring our movements, since they are key intermediaries between motor planning and posture-dependent execution. Using the compact brain of the fly Drosophila melanogaster, we will ask two fundamental questions: how is neural activity distributed across multiple networks integrated to estimate self-motion? How is this internal estimate used to correct erroneous movement? Using a self-paced behavior, in which a fly drifting from a stable heading turns based on an internal drift estimate, we have found a circuit sensitive to angular velocity, richly interconnected to the flys analogue of the spinal cord and higher-order brain areas, and critical to drift-based turns. We will leverage these results, and combine them with electron microscopy, behavior, physiology, optogenetics and modelling to study circuit mechanisms for course correction. We will: 1) use connectomics and manipulations of neural activity to identify pathways involved in corrective turns, 2) record from the identified neurons and correlate their activity with behavior, 3) perturb cell type-specific neurons to test their role on self-motion computations and on corrective turns, and 4) test neural activity in different behavioral contexts. These experiments will establish unprecedented causal relationships between neural computations and movement and reveal the functional organization of distributed circuits for walking control.
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: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
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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.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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.
(opens in new window) ERC-2022-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1400-038 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.