The atlas of the honeybee brain as a tool to relate neural functions to neural structure

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Randolf Menzel
• Subject Area: Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology
• Term: from 2005 to 2011
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 18222563

We have implemented a virtual 3-D atlas of the bee brain which is used as a common basis for accumulating structural data from individually-marked neurones, from filling subgroups of neurones, from functional imaging of neurones and neuropiles, and from marking neuropile borders in the context of quantitative intra- and interspecies comparative studies. The aim of the proposed work is to derive anatomical network properties from reconstructions of multiple individual neurones, to quantify structure at the neurone and neuropile levels, to develop a graphical interface for imaging data and to relate these to structures, and to compare structures in the course of the honeybee¿s developmental stages. The virtual bee brain atlas will be developed in collaboration with the other members of the Research Group into a tool for the international community working with insect brains by adding additional structures and by providing the strategies to establish brain atlases from confocal microscopy data.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants