Biology subjects

Berg, B. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Berg, B. G..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2020

Distinct protocerebral neuropils associated with attractive and aversive female-produced odorants in the male moth brain

The pheromone system of heliothine moths is an optimal model for studying principles underlying higher-order olfactory processing. In Helicoverpa armigera, three male-specific glomeruli receive input about three female-produced signals, the primary pheromone component, serving as an attractant, and two minor constituents, serving a dual function, i.e. attraction versus inhibition of attraction. From the antennal-lobe glomeruli, the information is conveyed to higher olfactory centers, including the lateral protocerebrum, via three main paths - of which the medial tract is the most prominent. In this study, we traced physiologically identified medial-tract projection neurons from each of the three male-specific glomeruli with the aim of mapping their terminal branches in the lateral protocerebrum. Our data suggest that the neurons wide-spread projections are organized according to behavioral significance, including a spatial separation of signals representing attraction versus inhibition - however, with a unique capacity of switching behavioral consequence based on the amount of the minor components.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

InsectBrainDatabase - A unified platform to manage, share, and archive morphological and functional data

Insect neuroscience generates vast amounts of highly diverse data, of which only a small fraction are findable, accessible and reusable, despite open data mandates by funding bodies. We have therefore developed the InsectBrainDatabase (IBdb), an open platform for depositing, sharing and managing a wide range of insect neuroanatomical and functional data. It facilities biological insight by enabling effective cross-species comparisons, by intimately linking data on structure and function, and by serving as hub for information on insect neuroethology. The IBdb provides novel visualization and search tools, which are also available in a unique private mode of the database, before data is made public. This allows users to manage and visualize unpublished data, creating a strong incentive for data contribution and eliminating additional effort when publicly depositing the data at a later stage. These design principles could also serve as a blueprint for similar databases in other fields.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

A novel major output target for pheromone-sensitive projection neurons in male moths

The male-specific macroglomerular complex (MGC) in the moth antennal lobe contains circuitry dedicated to pheromone processing. Output neurons from this region project along three parallel pathways, the medial, mediolateral, and lateral tracts. The MGC-neurons of the lateral tract are least described and their functional significance is unknown. We used mass-staining, calcium imaging, and intracellular recording/staining to characterize the morphological and physiological properties of these neurons in Helicoverpa armigera. All lateral-tract MGC neurons targeted the column, a small region within the superior intermediate neuropil. We identified this region as the major converging site for lateral-tract neurons responsive to pheromones and plant-odors. The lateral-tract MGC-neurons consistently responded with a faster onset than the well-described medial-tract neurons. Different from the medial-tract MGC neurons encoding odor quality important for signal identification, those in the lateral tract seem to convey a robust and rapid, but fixed signal - potentially important for fast control of hard-wired behavior.

neuroscience↗