Presentation Details
| From prey cue detection to feeding: neural activation in the nudibranch Berghia stephanieae Arka Ganguly, Cheyenne Tait. Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, USA |
Abstract
All animals detect relevant sensory cues and transform them into motor action. In Berghia stephanieae, prey seeking starts with chemosensory detection of sea anemones and transitions into feeding, mediated by a central nervous system of only 20,000 neurons. How these behaviors activate neuronal clusters across that compact system remains unknown. To address this, we developed a mapping protocol using in-situ HCR to label expression of the gene Egr1 as a proxy for neural activity in whole-mount brains. HCR showed consistent Egr1 expression in certain neurons at 30 and 45 minutes, with strongest labeling in sensory regions. These findings indicate that Egr1 reliably maps neural activity associated with prey chemosensation in Berghia. We also examined animals collected during active feeding, so the brain and buccal ganglia could be analyzed together for Egr1 expression associated with feeding behavior rather than sensing. By comparing prey cue chemosensation and feeding, this work links distinct behavioral states to brain wide neural activation patterns. Our larger goal is to establish Berghia as a tractable system for studying how sensory information is transformed into motor action.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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