Biology subjects

Andrade, I. V.

Publications and source records attributed to Andrade, I. V..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

The connectome of an insect brain

Brains contain networks of interconnected neurons, so knowing the network architecture is essential for understanding brain function. We therefore mapped the synaptic-resolution connectome of an insect brain (Drosophila larva) with rich behavior, including learning, value-computation, and action-selection, comprising 3,013 neurons and 544,000 synapses. We characterized neuron-types, hubs, feedforward and feedback pathways, and cross-hemisphere and brain-nerve cord interactions. We found pervasive multisensory and interhemispheric integration, highly recurrent architecture, abundant feedback from descending neurons, and multiple novel circuit motifs. The brains most recurrent circuits comprised the input and output neurons of the learning center. Some structural features, including multilayer shortcuts and nested recurrent loops, resembled powerful machine learning architectures. The identified brain architecture provides a basis for future experimental and theoretical studies of neural circuits. One-Sentence SummaryWe generated a synaptic-resolution brain connectome and characterized its connection types, neuron types, and circuit motifs.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Circuits for integrating learnt and innate valences in the fly brain

Animal behavior is shaped both by evolution and by individual experience. In many species parallel brain pathways are thought to encode innate and learnt behavior drives and as a result may link the same sensory cue to different actions if innate and learnt drives are in opposition. How these opposing drives are integrated into a single coherent action is not well understood. In insects, the Mushroom Body Output Neurons (MBONs) and the Lateral Horn Neurons (LHNs) are thought to provide the learnt and innate drives, respectively. However their patterns of convergence and the mechanisms by which their outputs are used to select actions are not well understood. We used electron microscopy reconstruction to comprehensively map the downstream targets of all MBONs in Drosophila larva and characterise their patterns of convergence with LHNs. We discovered convergence neurons that receive direct input from MBONs and LHNs and compare opposite behaviour drives. Functional imaging and optogenetic manipulation suggest these convergence neurons compute the overall predicted value of approaching or avoiding an odor and mediate action selection. Our study describes the circuit mechanisms allowing integration of opposing drives from parallel olfactory pathways.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2018

Developmentally arrested precursors of pontine neurons establish an embryonic blueprint of the Drosophila central complex

Serial electron microscopic analysis shows that the Drosophila brain at hatching possesses a large fraction of developmentally arrested neurons with a small soma, heterochromatin-rich nucleus, and unbranched axon lacking synapses. We digitally reconstructed all 812 \" small undifferentiated\" (SU) neurons on both hemispheres and assigned them to the known brain lineages. 54 SU neurons belonging to the DM1-4 lineages, which generate all columnar neurons of the central complex, form an embryonic nucleus of the fan-shaped body (FB). These \" FB pioneers\" develop into a speci1c class of bi-columnar elements, the pontine neurons. Even though later born, unicolumnar DM1-4 neurons fasciculate with the FB pioneers, selective ablation of these cells did not result in gross abnormalities of the trajectories of unicolumnar neurons, indicating that axonal path1nding of the two systems is controlled independently. Our comprehensive spatial and developmental analysis of the SU neuron adds to our understanding of the establishment of neuronal circuitry.

neuroscience↗