Couzin-Fuchs Lab
Insect Neuroscience - Sensory Integration and decision making
Konstanz Neurobiology, The Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour
University of Konstanz, Germany
Sensory processing in changing social environments
Reserach motivation
The ability to adapt to a changing social enviroenmnt is a fundumental aspect of life. Locusts exhibit a distinct ability to switch between a solitary and gregarious lifestyle rapidly, rendering them an ideal model for social plasticity and emergence of collective behaviour. By integrating techniques for neurophysiology, virtual reality and quantitaive behaviour we study the neural basis for social plasticity and swarming behavior.
Functional Imaging
We study how odours are represented and processed in the locust antennal lobe. Developing new protocols for calcium imaging, cell segmentation and sensorimotor transformations, we quantify how the brain process complex odour cues in changing environments.
Quantitative Behaviour
Combining computer vision for automated pose tracking in arena experiments and VR we analyse mechanisms mediating foraging and marching behaviors in locusts.
Evidence accumulation and decision making in locust groups, Günzel et al., iScience 2023
Integration of personal and social experience predicts patch foraging decisions.
