The neuronal building blocks of the navigational toolkit in the central complex of insects

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 55, С. 100972 - 100972

Опубликована: Сен. 17, 2022

Язык: Английский

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Varieties of visual navigation in insects

Animal Cognition, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 26(1), С. 319 - 342

Опубликована: Ноя. 28, 2022

Abstract The behaviours and cognitive mechanisms animals use to orient, navigate, remember spatial locations exemplify how abilities have evolved suit a number of different mobile lifestyles habitats. While cognition observed in vertebrates has been well characterised recent decades, no less interest are the great strides that also made characterizing understanding behavioural basis orientation navigation invertebrate models particular insects. Insects known exhibit remarkable able successfully migrate over long distances or pinpoint relying on multiple navigational strategies similar those found vertebrate models—all while operating under constraint relatively limited neural architectures. Insect systems often tailored each species’ ecology, yet common mechanistic principles can be repeatedly. Of these, reliance visual cues is across wide insect groups. In this review, we characterise some used by insects solve problems, including short-distances, migratory heading maintenance distances, homing locations. We describe research using examples from few well-studied species illustrate they interact with non-visual strategies.

Язык: Английский

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The sky compass network in the brain of the desert locust

Journal of Comparative Physiology A, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 209(4), С. 641 - 662

Опубликована: Дек. 23, 2022

Abstract Many arthropods and vertebrates use celestial signals such as the position of sun during day or stars at night compass cues for spatial orientation. The neural network underlying sky coding in brain has been studied great detail desert locust Schistocerca gregaria . These insects perform long-range migrations Northern Africa Middle East following seasonal changes rainfall. Highly specialized photoreceptors a dorsal rim area their compound eyes are sensitive to polarization sky, generated by scattered sunlight. combined with direct information on optic lobe anterior tubercle converge from both midline crossing structure, central complex. Here, head direction is achieved compass-like arrangement columns signaling solar azimuth through 360° range space combining brightness matching pattern sky. Other directional derived wind internal self-rotation input likely integrated. Signals transmitted coherent steering commands descending neurons control locomotion flight.

Язык: Английский

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Genome‐wide transcriptomic changes reveal the genetic pathways involved in insect migration

Molecular Ecology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 31(16), С. 4332 - 4350

Опубликована: Июль 8, 2022

Insects are capable of extraordinary feats long-distance movement that have profound impacts on the function terrestrial ecosystems. The ability to undertake these movements arose multiple times through evolution a suite traits make up migratory syndrome, however underlying genetic pathways involved remain poorly understood. Migratory hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) an emerging model group for studies migration. They seasonal in huge numbers across large parts globe and important pollinators, biological control agents decomposers. Here, we assembled high-quality draft genome marmalade hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus). We leveraged this genomic resource genome-wide transcriptomic comparison actively migrating Episyrphus, captured from high mountain pass as they flew south overwinter, with transcriptomes summer forms which were non-migratory. identified 1543 genes very strong evidence differential expression. Interrogation gene set reveals remarkable range roles metabolism, muscle structure function, hormonal regulation, immunity, stress resistance, flight feeding behaviour, longevity, reproductive diapause sensory perception. These features migrant phenotype arisen by integration modification such insulin signalling JAK/SAT those leading octopamine production fuelling boost capabilities. Our results provide powerful future research, paint comprehensive picture global expression changes insect, identifying key components life-history strategy.

Язык: Английский

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Neural Networks for Navigation: From Connections to Computations

Annual Review of Neuroscience, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 46(1), С. 403 - 423

Опубликована: Июль 10, 2023

Many animals can navigate toward a goal they cannot see based on an internal representation of that in the brain's spatial maps. These maps are organized around networks with stable fixed-point dynamics (attractors), anchored to landmarks, and reciprocally connected motor control. This review summarizes recent progress understanding these networks, focusing studies arthropods. One factor driving is availability Drosophila connectome; however, it increasingly clear navigation depends ongoing synaptic plasticity networks. Functional synapses appear be continually reselected from set anatomical potential interaction Hebbian learning rules, sensory feedback, attractor dynamics, neuromodulation. explain how space rapidly updated; may also brain initialize goals as fixed points for navigation.

Язык: Английский

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Vector navigation in walking bumblebees

Current Biology, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 32(13), С. 2871 - 2883.e4

Опубликована: Май 30, 2022

Path integration is a computational strategy that allows an animal to maintain internal estimate of its position relative point origin. Many species use path navigate back specific locations, typically their homes, after lengthy and convoluted excursions. Hymenopteran insects are impressive integrators, directly returning hives hundreds meters outward travel. Recent neurobiological insights have established hypotheses for how vectors could be encoded in the brains bees, but clear ways test these laboratory currently unavailable. Here, we report bumblebee, Bombus terrestris, uses while walking over short distances indoor arena. They accurate vector displacement orient by artificial celestial cues. Walking bumblebees also exhibited systematic search patterns when home failed lead them accurately nest, closely resembling searches performed other under natural conditions. We thus provide robust experimental system navigation behavior reflects most aspects integration. Importantly, this assay both readily available resilient invasive manipulations, as demonstrate with retention homing post-anesthesia surgery. In future, our behavioral can therefore combined current electrophysiological techniques, opening toward probing neural basis sophisticated abilities bees.

Язык: Английский

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Neural circuit mechanisms for steering control in walking Drosophila

Опубликована: Май 2, 2025

Orienting behaviors provide a continuous stream of information about an organism’s sensory experiences and plans. Thus, to study the links between sensation action, it is useful identify neurons in brain that control orienting behaviors. Here we describe descending Drosophila predict influence orientation (heading) during walking. We show these cells have specialized functions: whereas one cell type predicts sustained low-gain steering, other transient high-gain steering. These latter integrate internally-directed steering signals from head direction system with stimulus-directed multimodal pathways. The inputs are organized produce “see-saw” commands, so increasing output hemisphere accompanied by decreasing hemisphere. Together, our results internal external drives integrated motor commands different timescales, for flexible precise space.

Язык: Английский

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The influence of stimulus history on directional coding in the monarch butterfly brain

Journal of Comparative Physiology A, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 209(4), С. 663 - 677

Опубликована: Апрель 24, 2023

Abstract The central complex is a brain region in the insect that houses neural network specialized to encode directional information. Directional coding has traditionally been investigated with compass cues revolve full rotations and at constant angular velocities around insect’s head. However, these stimulus conditions do not fully simulate an sensory perception of during navigation. In nature, flight characterized by abrupt changes moving direction as well velocity. influence such varying cue dynamics on remains unclear. We performed long-term tetrode recordings from monarch butterflies study how neurons respond different directions. As derive information sun migration, we measured response virtual sun. was either presented spot appeared random positions or rotated butterfly By specifically manipulating velocity trajectory, dissociated coding. While substantially affected tuning directedness, trajectory influenced shape curve. Taken together, our results suggest flexibly adjusts its current ensuring precise even under highly demanding rapid maneuvers.

Язык: Английский

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Integration of optic flow into the sky compass network in the brain of the desert locust

Frontiers in Neural Circuits, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 17

Опубликована: Апрель 28, 2023

Flexible orientation through any environment requires a sense of current relative heading that is updated based on self-motion. Global external cues originating from the sky or earth‘s magnetic field and local provide reference frame for direction. Locally, optic flow may inform about turning maneuvers, travel speed covered distance. The central complex in insect brain associated with behavior largely acts as navigation center. Visual information global celestial landmarks are integrated to form an internal representation heading. However, it less clear how into central-complex network. We recorded intracellularly neurons locust while presenting lateral grating patterns simulated translational rotational motion identify these sites integration. Certain types were sensitive optic-flow stimulation independent type direction motion. Columnar innervating noduli, paired substructures, tuned horizontal turns. Modeling connectivity system proposed compass can account rotation-direction specific shifts activity profile corresponding turn Our model similar but not identical mechanisms angular velocity integration fly Drosophila .

Язык: Английский

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The efficiency of varying methods and degrees of time compensation for the solar azimuth

Biology Letters, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 19(11)

Опубликована: Ноя. 1, 2023

Daytime migrants are known to orientate using the position of sun, compensating for its changing throughout day with a ‘time-compensated sun compass'. This compass has been demonstrated in many migratory species, various degrees accuracy actual movement sun. Here, we present model differing levels compensation solar ephemeris that shows high degree efficiency, terms distance travelled, can be achieved without full time compensation. In our model, sun's had diminishing return an 80% leading only 2% reduction travelled. We compare modes compensation—full, partial, averaged and step—revealing their directional efficiency travelled under autumn migration scenario. find benefit varies latitude, averaging performing very well, especially at all latitudes, but step better low latitudes. Importantly, even rudimentary adjustment dramatically increase migration, which suggests easy pathway independent evolution

Язык: Английский

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