P-39 Correlating Neural and Behavioral Responses in an Insect Model

Female crickets (Acheta domesticus) respond phonotactically to model calls. Underlying neural networks are activated when the cricket recognizes a call that it deems attractive. The current study seeks to evaluate in the same animal both behavioral and neuronal responses to such calls. This approach allows us to establish a correlation between the neuronal activity and the behavioral response. Previous studies suggest the L3 auditory neuron influences phonotaxis. Contrary to prior studies, we are assessing phonotaxis on a spectrum rather than in a binary scale. Preliminary results support a positive correlation between phonotaxis and decrement levels in L3’s neuronal response of A. domesticus