Project description
A closer look at paddling with eyes shut
All animals sleep, just not in the same way. Sleep patterns vary across the animal kingdom. For instance, some species display a mixed state wherein one cerebral hemisphere is asleep and the other is awake. While this particular sleep type is compatible with locomotion in dolphins, it has not been observed in birds in flight. In the case of several goose species, however, paddling with their eyelids closed is a typical feature of sleep. The EU-funded SLEEPSWIM project will study the graylag goose to see if eye closure during paddling is associated with sleep and if it occurs bihemispherically. The results will also shed new light on sleepwalking in humans.
Objective
Although sleep has been found in most animals, our understanding of its function remains limited. A longstanding theory proposed that sleep has energy saving functions. Thus, an individual is expected to engage in sleep more often when energy intake is much lower than its energy demand. However, while facing such a negative energy balance, there might be some ecological contexts within which the need for sleep may conflict with the need for being awake. To overcome this issue, some species can display a mixed state wherein one cerebral hemisphere is asleep and the other is awake. Other than its importance as anti-predatory strategy, this phenomenon has received attention because it is the only sleep type that is compatible with locomotion, as shown in dolphins. However, in birds the possibility of combining sleep and active locomotion has never been demonstrated. In my recent observations, I obseved several goose species paddling while keeping their eyelids closed, which is a typical feature of sleep. The general aims of my project are to describe, for the first time in birds, the simultaneous occurrence of sleep and stereotype locomotion and to investigate how energy balance affects this phenomenon. Using the graylag goose (Anser anser) and state-of-the-art neurophysiological recording methods, I will describe whether eye closure during paddling is actually associated with sleep and if it occurs uni- or bihemispherically. Then, I will test whether the expression of this phenomenon varies during early-life development. Finally, I will study the modulation of such behavior in response to a gradient of energy requirement. My findings will not only be fundamental for uncovering the existence of sleep during active locomotion in birds, as well as factors driving its occurrence, but they will also propose the use of sleepswimming in geese as a model for investigating sleepwalking in humans, a poorly understood and, in some cases, life-threatening disorder.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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.
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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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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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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.
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
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.