bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Dec. 9, 2020
ABSTRACT
Flexible
behaviors
over
long
timescales
are
thought
to
engage
recurrent
neural
networks
in
deep
brain
regions,
which
experimentally
challenging
study.
In
insects,
circuit
dynamics
a
region
called
the
central
complex
(CX)
enable
directed
locomotion,
sleep,
and
context-
experience-dependent
spatial
navigation.
We
describe
first
complete
electron-microscopy-based
connectome
of
Drosophila
CX,
including
all
its
neurons
circuits
at
synaptic
resolution.
identified
new
CX
neuron
types,
novel
sensory
motor
pathways,
network
motifs
that
likely
extract
fly’s
head-direction,
maintain
it
with
attractor
dynamics,
combine
other
sensorimotor
information
perform
vector-based
navigational
computations.
also
numerous
pathways
may
facilitate
selection
CX-driven
behavioral
patterns
by
context
internal
state.
The
provides
comprehensive
blueprint
necessary
for
detailed
understanding
underlying
flexible
navigation,
state-dependent
action
selection.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: June 6, 2024
In
most
complex
nervous
systems
there
is
a
clear
anatomical
separation
between
the
nerve
cord,
which
contains
of
final
motor
outputs
necessary
for
behaviour,
and
brain.
insects,
neck
connective
both
physical
information
bottleneck
connecting
brain
ventral
cord
(VNC,
spinal
analogue)
comprises
diverse
populations
descending
(DN),
ascending
(AN)
sensory
neurons,
are
crucial
sensorimotor
signalling
control.
Integrating
three
separate
EM
datasets,
we
now
provide
complete
connectomic
description
neurons
female
system
In
most
animals,
a
relatively
small
number
of
descending
neurons
(DNs)
connect
higher
brain
centers
in
the
animal’s
head
to
circuits
and
motor
(MNs)
nerve
cord
body
that
effect
movement
limbs.
To
understand
how
signals
generate
behavior,
it
is
critical
these
pathways
are
organized
onto
MNs.
fly,
Drosophila
melanogaster
,
MNs
controlling
muscles
leg,
wing,
other
systems
reside
ventral
(VNC),
analogous
mammalian
spinal
cord.
companion
papers,
we
introduced
densely-reconstructed
connectome
Male
Adult
Nerve
Cord
(MANC,
Takemura
et
al.,
2023),
including
cell
type
developmental
lineage
annotation
(Marin
which
provides
complete
VNC
connectivity
at
synaptic
resolution.
Here,
present
first
look
organization
networks
connecting
DNs
based
on
this
new
information.
We
proofread
curated
all
ensure
accuracy
reliability,
then
systematically
matched
DN
axon
terminals
MN
dendrites
with
light
microscopy
data
link
their
morphology
inputs
or
muscle
targets.
report
both
broad
organizational
patterns
entire
network
fine-scale
analysis
selected
interest.
discover
direct
DN-MN
connections
infrequent
identify
communities
intrinsic
linked
control
different
systems,
putative
for
walking,
dorsal
flight
steering
power
generation,
intermediate
lower
tectulum
coordinated
action
wings
legs.
Our
generates
hypotheses
future
functional
experiments
and,
together
MANC
connectome,
empowers
others
investigate
richer
mechanistic
detail.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Dec. 9, 2020
ABSTRACT
Flexible
behaviors
over
long
timescales
are
thought
to
engage
recurrent
neural
networks
in
deep
brain
regions,
which
experimentally
challenging
study.
In
insects,
circuit
dynamics
a
region
called
the
central
complex
(CX)
enable
directed
locomotion,
sleep,
and
context-
experience-dependent
spatial
navigation.
We
describe
first
complete
electron-microscopy-based
connectome
of
Drosophila
CX,
including
all
its
neurons
circuits
at
synaptic
resolution.
identified
new
CX
neuron
types,
novel
sensory
motor
pathways,
network
motifs
that
likely
extract
fly’s
head-direction,
maintain
it
with
attractor
dynamics,
combine
other
sensorimotor
information
perform
vector-based
navigational
computations.
also
numerous
pathways
may
facilitate
selection
CX-driven
behavioral
patterns
by
context
internal
state.
The
provides
comprehensive
blueprint
necessary
for
detailed
understanding
underlying
flexible
navigation,
state-dependent
action
selection.