Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2022-2023)

The long-term goal of my research program is to understand how groups of neurons in the brain of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster can regulate alternative behaviours. Theoretical calculations suggest that small numbers of such “decision-making” neurons can control a binary switch between two behaviours. To identify decision-making neurons, I established two alternative behavioural paradigms of male’s mating decision. Longer-mating-duration (LMD) occurs when males prolong mating following persistent exposure to rivals, whereas shorter-mating-duration (SMD) occurs when males are sexually satiated. This simple behavioural metric is reproducible, quantifiable, and is easily amenable to genetic manipulation, making this a powerful model system for studying decision-making neurons. While LMD and SMD each involve unique sensory modalities, they have shared requirements for specific interneurons and memory circuits, suggesting the same decision-making neurons regulate the interplay between the two behaviours. To identify neurons that control the LMD or SMD decision, we screened known neuropeptide signaling pathways in Drosophila and identified four neurons that express the SIFa neuropeptide, which is known to be associated with both behaviours. Our goal for the next 5 years is to identify and fully characterize the integrative circuits of the SIFa-expressing neurons that regulate LMD and SMD. These studies will reveal fundamental circuit principles of decision-making neurons in Drosophila . The proposed work is not only relevant to studies of fly behaviour but also to the genetics of decision-making behaviour in other organisms. Indeed, like many other neural mechanisms initially dissected in Drosophila – e.g. learning and memory – the cellular and molecular basis of decision-making behaviour is likely to be conserved throughout evolution in the form of a molecular “toolkit”. This feature will help us begin to understand the neural basis of behaviour at the cellular and molecular level in organisms with more complex nervous systems.
The unique behavioural paradigm coupled with study of identified neurons will provide trainees with unparalleled expertise in neuroscience, genetics, and molecular biology – all highly desirable skills for academic, government and private sector research. The students will be able to contribute to scientific knowledge and will have a solid platform to develop their interests in pursuing a career in research or other related fields.