Effects of focal brain lesions on the flight behavior of the hawkmoth, Manduca sexta
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1
Case Western Reserve University, Biology, United States
In insects, flight requires rapid responses to changing sensory information to avoid obstacles and maintain stability. Furthermore, changes in environmental cues can modulate flight behaviors such as tracking to an attractive odor source or avoiding an aversive one. In some insects, the brain region known as the central complex has been shown to regulate step length, turning, climbing, and body axis orientation, as well as integration of visual and mechanosensory information. Stimulation of this region has resulted in spontaneous sound production, walking behavior, and body movements, while discrete electrolytic or genetic lesions have resulted in specific behavioral deficits or even elimination of a behavior.
The goal of this project is to extend our understanding of the role of the central complex in the control of sensory processing and walking maneuvers to its role in flight and odor tracking behaviors. The hawkmoth, Manduca sexta, performs a characteristic counter-turning flight while tracking a plume of attractive odor in a turbulent wind environment. To create a baseline of an insect’s behavior we recorded intact moths tracking to an attractive odor source without any treatments. Then using a steel probe we created a discrete electrolytic lesion in the central complex and then recorded the same moths’ flight the following day. We observed post-lesion changes in flight behavior ranging from an inability to take-off to those that could fly but could not maintain altitude. Of those that could maintain flight, we observed failures to track an attractive odor plume to the source, and even a failure to respond to the attractive odor. The associations between these behavioral effects and lesions to specific brain regions and the central complex are ongoing.
Keywords:
Behavior,
Brain,
central complex,
flight,
lesion,
Manduca sexta,
moth
Conference:
Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology, College Park. Maryland USA, United States, 5 Aug - 10 Aug, 2012.
Presentation Type:
Poster (but consider for student poster award)
Topic:
Sensorimotor Integration
Citation:
Awe
SJ and
Willis
MA
(2012). Effects of focal brain lesions on the flight behavior of the hawkmoth, Manduca sexta.
Conference Abstract:
Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnbeh.2012.27.00154
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Received:
27 Apr 2012;
Published Online:
07 Jul 2012.
*
Correspondence:
Mr. Solomon J Awe, Case Western Reserve University, Biology, Cleveland, OH, 44106, United States, soloawe@gmail.com