Modeling the neural mechanisms of gravity perception in European corn borer caterpillars

Context and challenges

Due to the complexity of directional perception, there is currently very little information available on how oval organisms perceive gravity and its direction. 

The Grav-Modelling consortium plans to resolve this complex question through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that combines biological, genetic, behavioral, physiological and applied mathematical expertise, concentrating on the mechanisms of graviception in fruit fly (Drosophila) larvae and European corn borer caterpillars. 

Goals

The aim of this study is to model gravity perception and integrate it into the locomotor behavior of insect larvae using the existing Drosophila model, with a view to transferring the outcome to the study of the European corn borer. Initial work at the Sophia Agrobiotech Institute has identified the sensory organs responsible for locomotive gravitational orientation in Drosophila larvae, comprising eight stereotyped neurons in each segment of the larva. The neural network associated with these neurons has recently been revealed.

To understand how the direction of gravity is perceived and integrated into behavioral decisions, Grav_Modeling proposes to use a mechanistic and predictive-modeling approach.

• The first step in this study will be to use the genetically modifiable Drosophila model to study gravity perception in larvae;
• The second step will be to integrate the behavioral results into the newly described neural network. Here, the consortium will first seek to understand how the differential orientation of each of the eight identified neurons contributes to their integration via neural compression mechanisms, thus taking into account the directionality of the gravitational force.
• Last, the consortium will seek to integrate the neural network associated with these eight neurons to understand how their activation, whether individually or in combination, can produce directional movements in larvae. 

This interdisciplinary approach is essential to achieve a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of gravity perception in developing insects. In the longer term, it could have significant implications for the corn borer caterpillar adaptation to agricultural practices.

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