Summary
The ability to select a suitable mating partner is one of the primary mechanisms under which evolution occurs. Animals have evolved species-specific communication strategies that influence mate choice. During courtship, males display a combination of multisensory sexual cues to attract females. Despite extensive work has been done in understanding the role of different sexual cues in female attraction, the neuronal mechanisms that regulate multisensory integration of courtship displays are completely unexplored. Male mice attract females by releasing sexual chemo-signals, contained in their urine and scent, and emitting ultrasound vocalizations (USVs). In inbred mice, females display an innate preference for USVs emitted by novel unfamiliar individuals. This preference emerges only if they are primed with male odours, indicating multisensory integration to be fundamental for mate selection. How the brain integrates multimodal information for USVs preference is completely unknown. I will capitalize on recent advances in optical imaging and neuroanatomy, including state-of–the art high throughput techniques, such as light-sheet whole-brain imaging and multi-site functional recordings, combined with natural instinctive behaviours and in vivo electrophysiology to: i) identify key brain areas involved in olfactory and acoustic integration for USVs preference during mate choice; ii) investigate how olfaction modulates USVs sensory processing in primary auditory areas. The proposed project will identify the neuronal basis of multisensory integration of courtship cues during mate choice. It will provide extensive training in neuroanatomy, behavioural assays and advanced optical approaches to study naturalistic behaviours and multimodal communication in rodents. The success of this proposal will have a major impact on my career development, enabling me to become an independent researcher and ultimately establish my own research group in the neuroethology field.
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| Web resources: | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101065517 |
| Start date: | 01-01-2023 |
| End date: | 31-12-2024 |
| Total budget - Public funding: | - 188 590,00 Euro |
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Original description
The ability to select a suitable mating partner is one of the primary mechanisms under which evolution occurs. Animals have evolved species-specific communication strategies that influence mate choice. During courtship, males display a combination of multisensory sexual cues to attract females. Despite extensive work has been done in understanding the role of different sexual cues in female attraction, the neuronal mechanisms that regulate multisensory integration of courtship displays are completely unexplored. Male mice attract females by releasing sexual chemo-signals, contained in their urine and scent, and emitting ultrasound vocalizations (USVs). In inbred mice, females display an innate preference for USVs emitted by novel unfamiliar individuals. This preference emerges only if they are primed with male odours, indicating multisensory integration to be fundamental for mate selection. How the brain integrates multimodal information for USVs preference is completely unknown. I will capitalize on recent advances in optical imaging and neuroanatomy, including state-of–the art high throughput techniques, such as light-sheet whole-brain imaging and multi-site functional recordings, combined with natural instinctive behaviours and in vivo electrophysiology to: i) identify key brain areas involved in olfactory and acoustic integration for USVs preference during mate choice; ii) investigate how olfaction modulates USVs sensory processing in primary auditory areas. The proposed project will identify the neuronal basis of multisensory integration of courtship cues during mate choice. It will provide extensive training in neuroanatomy, behavioural assays and advanced optical approaches to study naturalistic behaviours and multimodal communication in rodents. The success of this proposal will have a major impact on my career development, enabling me to become an independent researcher and ultimately establish my own research group in the neuroethology field.Status
SIGNEDCall topic
HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01-01Update Date
09-02-2023
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