Computational neuroethology － Developing a virtual worm system and its energy homeostasis mechanism

• Main Authors: Hsieh, Fang Kuei, 謝方桂
• Other Authors: Lo, Chung Chuan
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/4ntgff

碩士 === 國立清華大學 === 系統神經科學研究所 === 104 === Neuroethology is the study of animal behavior with an emphasis on the underlying neural mechanisms and interactions between subjects and environment. A great approach to address questions in neuroethology that cannot be addressed by experiment and observation has arisen due to the booming development of computational neuroscience. From this, our lab has developed a software tool, known as the Hanitu system. The system is a simulation environment that simulates the behavior and neural activity of user-designed virtual worms in a two-dimensional virtual world. Hanitu was developed around a central idea, which given a challenging environment, how should the nervous system be designed for a virtual worm to forage for foods, avoid toxicants, and reach the ultimate goal – to survive. This thesis is focused on rebuilding the system based on modular design strategy for easy upgrading and maintenance. There are three core components of the Hanitu system as follows: the graphical user interface (GUI), Hanitu (the virtual world), and Flysim (the neural network simulator). There are two main functions added to the latest version of the Hanitu system: a cross-sensory mechanism and an energy homeostasis mechanism to simulate the more realistic behavior of animals. The former implements a phenomenon for a single olfactory receptor neuron that is active from multiple odorants .The latter that simulates the secretion of an internal energy related hormone, ghrelin, in animals and adds the neuropeptide Y (NPY) neuron which is stimulated by Ghrelin into the neural circuit of virtual worm. The results of the simulation illustrate that different behavior arise from the energy homeostasis mechanism.