YALE UNIVERSITY

Why are there so many neurotransmitters and neuropeptides, and why does each neurotransmitter have so many different receptors? How is all this signaling used to set up the dynamic pattern of activity within neural circuits to allow these circuits to think thoughts and control behaviors? Currently, there is not a single neural circuit in any organism in which we know how all the signals and receptors are used to control activity of the circuit. We aim to change this by studying a single simple model circuit in C. elegans, the egg-laying circuit. We are also generating a map of what cells express every G protein coupled neurotransmitter and neuropeptide receptor in C. elegans, so that our analysis of the egg-laying circuit can eventually be broadened to analyzing all neural circuits in C. elegans. By understanding first one and then a few neural circuits in great depth, we hope to uncover general principals that apply to all neural circuits in all organisms.

Also known as: Koelle Lab