Speaker
Description
Information processing within sensory circuits relies on adaptive mechanisms to cope with changes in the environment. Environmental conditions do not only determine the statistics of sensory stimuli but also affect how neural circuits operate and develop. In my lab we investigate how key adaptive computations are implemented in the fly olfactory system and how they are maintained across environmental conditions that affect the wiring of the olfactory circuit.
In Drosophila melanogaster, we have shown that brain connectivity scales inversely with developmental temperature: lower temperatures lead to the formation of more synapses and the recruitment of additional synaptic partners. This temperature-dependent connectomes likely harness similar functions but also potentially support adaptive behaviors. I will discuss our current understanding of the origin of temperature dependent wiring in the fly brain and the implications for odor coding robustness and odor-drive behavior.