Multi-protocol analysis for comprehensive understanding of animal psychology

2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23657055
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Animal physiology/Animal behavior
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo (2013); Kyoto University (2011-2012)
• Principal Investigator: EJIMA Aki 東京大学, 農学生命科学研究科, 講師 (00548571)
• Project Period (FY): 2011 – 2012
• Keywords: 行動生理

Research Abstract

In many animals including human, monoamine neurotransmitters are known to play important roles for emotional changes. In this study, using Drosophila male courtship behavior as a model system, we performed comprehensive behavioral analysis to reveal relationship between functions of neurotransmitter monoamines and animals' psychology. By behavioral analysis of mutant males in which amine synthesis and/or amine receptors, we found that impaired function of primary monoamines in insects, dopamine, serotonin and octopamine resulted into reduced courtship motivation. Among them, acute change of one neurotransmitter was critical for temporal control of behavior.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Dye-Fills Reveal Additional Olfactory Tracts in the Protocerebrum of Wild-Type Drosophila (2012)
  • Author(s): Tanaka NK, Suzuki E, Dye L, Ejima A, and Stopfer M
  • Journal Title: Journal of Comparative Neurology Volume: 520(18) Pages: 4131-4140
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Neuroscience : Lessons from heartbreak (2012)
  • Author(s): Ejima A
  • Journal Title: Nature Volume: 489(7414) Pages: 38-9
• [Journal Article] Assay for courtship suppression in Drosophila (2011)
  • Author(s): Ejima A, Griffith LC
  • Journal Title: Cold Spring Harbor Protocols
  • DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot5575
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Central regulation of locomotor behavior of Drosophila melanogaster depends on a CASK isoform containing CaMK-like and L27 domains (2011)
  • Author(s): Slawson JB, Kuklin EA, Ejima A, Mukherjee K, Ostrovsky L, Griffith LC
  • Journal Title: Genetics Volume: 187(1) Pages: 171-184
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] 感覚入力によって段階的に制御されるショウジョウバエ生殖行動 (2013)
  • Author(s): 江島亜樹
  • Organizer: 第7回Motor Control 研究会
  • Place of Presentation: 東京
  • Year and Date: 2013-09-05
• [Presentation] オスの求愛を環境適応的に制御する嗅覚系アセチルコリン入力 : ハエを用いた心理学 (2011)
  • Author(s): 江島亜樹
  • Organizer: 第4回分子高次機能研究会 : 昆虫脳という小宇宙
  • Place of Presentation: 阿蘇
  • Year and Date: 2011-08-26
• [Remarks] 公開授業:失恋の思い出 : ショウジョウバエから学ぶ フェロモンと記憶の関係, 九州大学 , エクセレント・スチューデント・イン・サイエンス育成プロジェクト, 2012年10月20日
• [Remarks] ワークショップオーガナイザー(共同オーガナイザー : 九州大学石原健) : 意思決定のヒラメキ:定量的行動解析と蛍光イメージングで探る情報処理の神経基盤, 日本分子生物学会, 2012年12月13日, 福岡
• [Remarks] 学会主催(大会長) : 第五回分子高次機能研究会~高次機能を生み出すエコプロセッサ~, 2012年8月27~29日, 大津