Objective An animal’s decision on how to respond to the environment is based not only on the sensory information available, but further depends on internal factors such as stress, sleep / wakefulness, hunger / satiety and experience. Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the brain modulate neural circuits accordingly so that appropriate behaviors are generated. Aberrant neuromodulation is implicated in diseases such as insomnia, obesity or anorexia. Given the complexity of most neural systems studied, we lack good models of how neuromodulators systemically affect the activities of neural networks.To overcome this problem, I propose to study neural circuits in the nematode C. elegans, which is a genetically tractable model organism with a simple and anatomically defined nervous system. I will focus on the neural circuits involved in oxygen chemosensory behaviors. Worms can smell oxygen and they use this information to navigate through heterogeneous environments. This enables them to find food and to engage in social interactions. Oxygen chemosensory behaviors are highly modulated by experience and nutritional status, but the underlying mechanisms are not understood.I established behavioral assays that allow studying the modulation of oxygen behaviors in a rigorously quantifiable manner. I also acquired expertise in micro-fabrication technologies and developed imaging devices to measure the activity of neurons in live animals. The first two aims of this proposal focus on the application of these technologies to study (A) how neuropeptides mediate experience dependent modulation of oxygen chemosensory circuits; and (B) how food availability and nutritional status modulate the same neural circuits. Aim (C) is an innovative engineering approach in which I will develop new microfluidic technologies that allow the simultaneous recording of oxygen evoked behaviors and neural activity. This will be beneficial for aims A and B and will pave way for new future research directions. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicinepsychiatrysleep disordersnatural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologymedical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionobesitynatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencecomputational intelligence Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-LS5 - ERC Starting Grant - Neurosciences and neural disorders Call for proposal ERC-2011-StG_20101109 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Host institution FORSCHUNGSINSTITUT FUR MOLEKULARE PATHOLOGIE GESELLSCHAFT MBH EU contribution € 1 500 000,00 Address CAMPUS-VIENNA-BIOCENTER 1 1030 Wien Austria See on map Region Ostösterreich Wien Wien Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Tanja Winkler (Ms.) Principal investigator Manuel Zimmer (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all FORSCHUNGSINSTITUT FUR MOLEKULARE PATHOLOGIE GESELLSCHAFT MBH Austria EU contribution € 1 500 000,00 Address CAMPUS-VIENNA-BIOCENTER 1 1030 Wien See on map Region Ostösterreich Wien Wien Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Tanja Winkler (Ms.) Principal investigator Manuel Zimmer (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
