Neuronal mechanisms of olfactory learning and behaviour in Drosophila: State-dependent structural and functional plasticity of mushroom body circuits (B04)

Subject Area Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology
Term from 2011 to 2022
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 154113120
 

Project Description

Our project aims at functionally analyzing how food uptake with high or low caloric value structurally and functionally shapes neuronal circuits that mediate odor-guided behavior and learning. We will use Drosophila as a model and will focus on the mushroom body circuitry of the central brain as a test system. We will identify neurons signaling caloric values and we will determine the role of caloric-value-induced structural and functional plasticity in mushroom body-extrinsic neurons. This will serve as an experimental model paradigm to analyze how neuronal circuits orchestrating innate and learned behavior are modified in dependence of internal states.
DFG Programme Collaborative Research Centres
Subproject of SFB 889:  Cellular Mechanisms of Sensory Processing
Applicant Institution Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Project Head Professor Dr. André Fiala