Presentation Details
| Perineuronal nets as drivers of individuality in a clonal reptile Malik Seljuk, Andrew Sih, Richard Szeligowski. University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA |
Abstract
Animals often exhibit consistent individual differences in behavior, which have documented effects on fitness in the wild. Specifically, individual differences in risk aversion affect survival, but fundamental questions about the causal mechanisms of individuality remain. Multiple proximate mechanisms have been proposed as drivers of the emergence and maintenance of individuality, yet disentangling these mechanisms from causative genetic factors (and gene by environment interactions) presents a challenge for empiricists. Here, we leverage a clonal vertebrate, the mourning gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris) to investigate whether differences in perineuronal net density (PNNs; extracellular matrices controlling synaptic plasticity), which regulate fear memory in mammals, can drive individual differences in aversion to predator cues. By creating experimental conditions where a subset of geckos have PNNs pharmacologically ablated, we aim to isolate the effect of constraints to neuroplasticity on the emergence of individuality in response to ecologically relevant danger.
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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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