Behavioral and circuit stability in dynamically changing visual environments (C06*)

• Subject Area: Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 221828878

The new project C06 will address sensory homeostasis in the fly visual system in response to changing environments. We identified the first order interneuron L3 as sensitive to luminance, rather than contrast, and found that it is essential for a homeostatic mechanism allowing the fly to maintain a constant behavioral response to contrast in responses to swift changes into dim light. We will now characterize the physiological and behavioral responses to the converse situation (sudden bright light), and will delineate the circuit integrating luminance and contrast sensitivity; finally, we will investigate the time scales of homeostatic adaptation and the role and regulation of feedback mechanisms.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1080: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Neural Homeostasis
• Applicant Institution: Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Marion Silies