OLF-ACtion · Multimodal integration of olfactory and acoustic cues in mouse courtship communication

Multimodal integration of olfactory and acoustic cues in mouse courtship communication

The ability to find, attract, and select a suitable mating partner is one of the fundamental processes driving evolution. Animals have evolved species-specific stereotyped strategies, collectively referred to as courtship behaviors, to attract individuals of the opposite sex. Despite the vast variability in courtship displays across species, a common feature is their multimodal nature, where courtship behaviors involve at least two sensory modalities. This multisensory aspect has long intrigued scientists across disciplines, including ethology and neuroscience. However, most studies have investigated the role of individual sensory modalities in isolation, without exploring their combined information content in a multimodal context. Moreover, how these multisensory stimuli are integrated and represented in brain neural circuits remains largely unexplored. OLF-ACtion addresses these gaps through interdisciplinary approaches combining neuroanatomy and brain physiology. The overall aim of the action is to understand the neuronal basis of multimodal communication in naturalistic contexts. In particular, the project has two main objectives: 1) identify key brain areas involved in the integration of multimodal courtship cues in adult female mice; 2) investigate the interaction between olfactory and acoustic sensory modalities in primary sensory areas. Project’s results aim to shine light on the role of multimodal communication during courtship behaviour and the underlying neuronal mechanisms involved in the selection of potential mating partners. Understanding the circuits involved in the integration of multimodal information is among the main challenges in the neuroscience field. Past studies have been focusing on brain mechanisms merging information from different sensory modalities by using artificial and simplified paradigm of stimuli presentation. This project goes beyond the state-of-the-art and investigates these mechanisms under naturalistic conditions involving complex and ethologically relevant sensory stimuli. Moreover, by assessing which brain areas play a role in the representation of multisensory courtship cues, the project will help move forward our knowledge on the role of multimodal communication during courtship.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union