Abstract
The project will investigate higher processing of colour and odour in the insect where the interaction of vision and olfaction has only recently started to be studied. Although each modality on its own is sufficient to attract the moth, the combination is required for the moth to unroll its proboscis and to elicit foraging behaviour. This shows that it has a preference for a configuration of both cues. It has also been found that some hawkmoths relies on odour at a distance and vision at close range to locate the flower. I will look at multimodal interaction using a number of different methods, including behavioural studies, different learning techniques, and optical imaging of the brain responses to different stimuli. How do vision and olfaction interact during learning and behaviour? How does the neural code change as a result of learning? How is multimodal learning transferred between classical conditioning with constrained moths and instrumentally conditioned free-flying animals? An understanding of multimodal processing is essential to comprehend how animals use sensory information. The project will also make it possible to tear apart the different components of learning that occur during foraging. Moreover, the results will show whether the properties of classical and instrumental conditioning are universal in different animals.
Sweden