title: Development of a scheme and tools to construct a standard moth brain for neural network simulations.
abstract: Understanding the neural mechanisms for sensing environmental information and controlling behavior in natural environments is a principal aim in neuroscience. One approach towards this goal is rebuilding neural systems by simulation. Despite their relatively simple brains compared with those of mammals, insects are capable of processing various sensory signals and generating adaptive behavior. Nevertheless, our global understanding at network system level is limited by experimental constraints. Simulations are very effective for investigating neural mechanisms when integrating both experimental data and hypotheses. However, it is still very difficult to construct a computational model at the whole brain level owing to the enormous number and complexity of the neurons. We focus on a unique behavior of the silkmoth to investigate neural mechanisms of sensory processing and behavioral control. Standard brains are used to consolidate experimental results and generate new insights through integration. In this study, we constructed a silkmoth standard brain and brain image, in which we registered segmented neuropil regions and neurons. Our original software tools for segmentation of neurons from confocal images, KNEWRiTE, and the registration module for segmented data, NeuroRegister, are shown to be very effective in neuronal registration for computational neuroscience studies.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Science and Environment, University of Hyogo, 1-1-12 Shinzaike-Honcho, Himeji, Hyogo 670-0092, Japan. ikeno@shse.u-hyogo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeno
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kazawa
authors.forename: Shigehiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Namiki
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Stephan Shuichi
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Haupt
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Ryohei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kanzaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D009036:Moths / Q000502:physiology*; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D019581:Neuropil / Q000502:physiology; D012984:Software