Overview of the research undertaken within the Laboratory for Neural Circuit of Multisensory Integration

Abstract

Senses are key to responding to environmental stimuli and survival depends on appropriate responses. Although researchers have identified the cells and molecules essential to sensing each environmental stimuli, it remains relatively unknown how pathways interact when animals receive multiple stimuli. Asuka Takeishi, Laboratory for Neural Circuit of Multisensory Integration, Japan, is working to identify the mechanism of sensory integration by exposing Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to odour and temperature stimuli. The goal of this research is to decipher the general mechanisms of sensory integration and, in doing so, contribute to the development of understanding of human neural mechanisms. Takeishi and the team also believe the research could have applications in agriculture. So far, the researchers have established the behaviour assay to observe the responses of C. elegans to odour and temperature stimuli simultaneously, and have also created a fluorescent microscope system to monitor the freely-moving worms' neural activities. Next, Takeishi and the team will use these systems to extract biological data and perform mathematical modelling in order to simulate how neurons process multiple pieces of information and produce locomotion. The researchers hope to expand their studies beyond odour and temperature to look at the integration of other stimuli.