DECISIONS, DECISIONS...
Every moment, organisms must make behavioral decisions that optimize survival and fitness based on internal state cues and external environmental cues. The Barber Lab focuses on key survival behaviors driven by a protohypothalamic region in the fly brain called the pars intercerebralis. How do neurons within the pars intercerebralis sense internal state cues like hunger, tiredness, and time of day? How do neurons within the pars intercerebralis sense environmental cues like food availability and taste? And finally, when multiple conflicting cues arrive in the brain, how are signals integrated to allow the fly to select from mutually exclusive behaviors?
If you’re interested in understanding the biological basis of complex behaviors at the molecular, cellular, and circuit levels - join us!
KEY TECHNIQUES
- Drosophila genetics
- High throughput behavioral assays
- Calcium imaging
- Immunohistochemistry
- Patch-clamp electrophysiology
- Single-cell sequencing
- q-RT-PCR
- Closed Cortical Crush Injury
CURRENT PROJECTS
Untangling neuropeptide and fast neurotransmitter signaling in a defined circuit
Neural circuits use a combination of classical fast neurotransmitters and modulatory peptide neurotransmitters to communicate. The clock circuit uses both types of signals to influence the circadian timing of sleep, feeding, and locomotion. This project will use a combination of behavioral genetics and classical biochemical methods to understand how the circadian clock uses signals to output brain regions that drive locomotor and feeding behavior.
Integration of internal state and external environmental cues at the circuit level
Organisms must make behavioral decisions based on an array of both internal state cues (like hunger or time of day) and external environmental cues (like availability of food or temperature). The Drosophila pars intercerebralis is a “hub” brain region that receives information about both state and environmental cues, and then releases an array of neuropeptides that influence fly behavior. This project will investigate how diverse signals integrate within the PI at the molecular and electrophysiological levels to influence behavioral choice.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Now recruiting graduate and postdocs.
If you’re interested in understanding the biological basis of complex behaviors at the molecular, cellular and circuit levels - join us! Email annika.barber@rutgers.edu for details.