Neural circuitry of motivation studied using naturalistic behaviour
Supervisor
Prof Mick Craig, University of Glasgow
Dr Ana González Rueda, University of Glasgow
Dr Gareth Arnott, Queens University Belfast
Summary
Motivation is a key intrinsic drive underlying goal-directed behaviour and the neural circuitry underlying motivation is widely conserved across the animal kingdom. Studying motivation in animals is challenging due to the difficulties associated with measuring an animal’s internal state, and often relies on extensively training animals to carry out unnatural behaviours to earn a reward. This project will use a mouse’s innate drive to predate crickets to study the neurobiology of motivational behaviour. Using a combination of optogenetic circuit manipulation, in vivo electrophysiology and behaviour, the project will determine the relative contribution of different brain regions associated with reward to a mouse’s motivation to predate or forage. We will also determine whether foraging behaviour provides a good assay for depression in agricultural animals.
The successful student will acquire a strong background in systems neuroscience and gain skills in in vivo surgery, behavioural assays, microscopy, electrophysiology and coding. These are very in-demand skills for bioscience researchers in academia and industry, and also provide a strong foundation for Data Science careers.