Design Principles Of Sensory Receptors

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} This Research Topic is aimed towards collecting the present knowledge of structure and function of sensory receptors in the animal kingdom, as well as the mechanisms of signal transduction and downstream signal amplification. The term sensory receptor applies for sensory modalities reflecting the outer world (vision, audition, olfaction etc.), the inner world (pH, osmolarity, glucose level etc.) or both such as temperature and pain.

Evolution gave rise to a prominent insect diversity at every level of ecological niche. Since then, hordes of insects have threatened human and cattle health as well as most of all green lands and agricultural crops. Now, the insect problem expands from many mutant forms of yellow dengue fever mosquitoes to highly-resistant larvae of most all various phytophageous species. The tremendous expansion of insects is due not only to an increasing resistance capacity to insecticides, but also to a strong capacity for adapting to different climate and environmental changes, including global warming. Obviously insects display a number of rudimentary systems to build an extremely efficient organism to survive in a changing world. In many species, one pheromone molecule is enough to trigger mating behavior. Therefore, insects have become crucial models not only for evolutionary studies, but also for understanding specific mechanisms underlying sensory-based behaviors. Most of insect species such as ants, beetles, cockroaches, locusts, moths and mosquitoes largely rely on olfactory cues to explore the environment and find con-specifics or food sources. A conglomerate of renowned international scientific experts is gathered to expose the insect problem on the various continents of the planet and propose an alternative to the use of toxic insecticides. Sex pheromones, specific chemical signals necessary for reproduction, and pheromone detection in insects are described with full details of the olfactory mechanisms in the antennae and higher centers in the brain. Thus, new synthetic pheromones and/or plant odors with specific molecular target sites in the insect olfactory system are proposed for sustainable development in agricultural and entomological industries. Disrupting insect pheromone channels and plant odor detection mechanisms is solemnly envisioned as a unique way to control invasive insect pest species while preserving human and environment safety.

The new edition has been significantly revised to include an expanded problem section at the end of each chapter with more quantitative examples and some clinical problems where appropriate. The clinical physiology chapter is now broken into several short chapters

An introduction to how neuroethology can inform the development of robots controlled by synaptic networks instead of algorithms, from a pioneer in biorobotics. The trait most fundamental to the evolution of animals is the capability to adapt to novel circumstances in unpredictable environments. Recent advances in biomimetics have made it feasible to construct robots modeled on such unsupervised autonomous behavior, and animal models provide a library of existence proofs. Filling an important gap in the field, this introductory textbook illuminates how neurobiological principles can inform the development of robots that are controlled by synaptic networks, as opposed to algorithms. Joseph Ayers provides a comprehensive overview of the sensory and motor systems of a variety of model biological systems and shows how their behaviors may be implemented in artificial systems, such as biomimetic robots. Introduces the concept of biological intelligence as applied to robots, building a strategy for autonomy based on the neuroethology of simple animal models Provides a mechanistic physiological framework for the control of innate behavior Illustrates how biomimetic vehicles can be operated in the field persistently and adaptively Developed by a pioneer in biorobotics with decades of teaching experience Proven in the classroom Suitable for professionals and researchers as well as undergraduate and graduate students in cognitive science and computer science

To perceive environmental chemical compounds and to convert these external signals into an intracellular message might be the oldest way for a living being to get information from the outside world. Chemoreceptors are proteins or protein complexes that detect molecules from the outside world either at distance (olfaction) or at close range (gustation). Chemoreceptors can operate as ionotropic or as metabotropic receptors. Ionotropic receptors form ion channels that are activated via ligand binding. Activation of a metabotropic receptor initiates an intracellular signaling cascade that could include a change of enzymatic activity, production of second messenger or activation of ion channels. The receptor performance has to be fine-tuned according to the actual physiological requirements and the presentation of the chemical signal. This Research Topic collects reports and reviews on structure and function of chemoreceptors in the animal kingdom, and how these receptors are regulated.

Tracing embodied transformation in the context of Gaga, the Israeli dance improvisation practice, this book demystifies what Lina Aschenbrenner coins as “neo-spiritual aesthetics.” This book takes the reader on an analytical journey through a Gaga class, outlining the effective aesthetics of Gaga as an example for the broader field of neo-spiritualities. It distinguishes a threefold effect of Gaga practice-from a momentary extraordinary experience, to a lasting therapeutic effect, and finally Gaga's worldview potential. It situates the effect in an assemblage of interrelating aesthetics of environment, movement, and bodies. The book shows why seemingly leisure time activities such as Gaga form fruitful research objects to an academic study of religion and opens up research on neo-spiritual practices. In understanding the sensory effect of practice and its cultural and social implications, the book follows an Aesthetics of Religion approach. It departs from the idea that cognition is embodied and that the body is thus central to understanding cultural and social phenomena. Drawing upon a wide array of data gathered in the context of Gaga at the Suzanne Dellal Center in Tel Aviv, the book weaves together different methods of discourse, ritual, movement, body knowledge, and narrative analysis, while acknowledging insights from neuroscience and cognitive science.

Neural network models, in addition to being of intrinsic theoretical interest, have also proved to be a useful framework in which issues in theoretical biology can be put into perspective. These issues include, amongst others, modelling the activity of the cortex and the study of protein folding. More recently, neural network models have been extensively investigated as tools for data analysis in high energy physics experiments. These workshop proceedings reflect the strongly interdisciplinary character of the field and provide an updated overview of recent developments.