Understanding the neural mechanisms of color vision in the central nervous system

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25870768
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Animal physiology/Animal behavior; Neurophysiology / General neuroscience
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science
• Principal Investigator: SEKI Yoichi 東京薬科大学, 生命科学部, 助教 (30634472)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ショウジョウバエ / 色覚 / 電気生理 / パッチクランプ / 色識別

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Many animals can discriminate color based on the activities of several photoreceptor classes that have a distinct spectral sensitivity. However, neural mechanisms underlying color vision are not yet fully understood. Drosophila melanogaster offers a good model system for deciphering the neural basis of color vision due to the similarity of the early visual circuits with humans, the numerical simplicity of the circuits and the availability of rich genetic tools. In this study, as a first step toward understanding the neural mechanisms of color vision, we aimed to establish electrophysiological recordings from CNS neurons of the fly brain involved in color vision. In addition to the electrophysiological approach, we established a behavioral experiment to evaluate the color discrimination ability of the fly.

Free Research Field

神経行動学、動物生理学、感覚生理学