Arousal involves a state of heightened neural activity and lower threshold sensitivity to environmental stimuli. Substance abuse (SA) often involves the uncontrollable self- administration of drugs that alter levels of arousal. Epidemiological and genetic data suggest a linkage between SA, sleep disturbances and arousal/attentional disorders such as ADHD. Thus an understanding of the genetic and neural circuit-level mechanisms that control arousal may lend insight into the pathophysiology and genetics of SA. A fundamental question is whether arousal is a unitary, generalized state, or whether there are different forms of arousal, controlling different behaviors. Consistent with the latter view, multiple neuromodulatory systems have been implicated in arousal, including biogenic amines (BAs), acetylcholine (ACh), hormones and neuropeptides such as orexin. Furthermore, recent data from my laboratory have shown that in Drosophila, even a single neuromodulator (dopamine;DA) can influence different forms of arousal (sleep-wake vs. stress-induced) in opposite directions, by acting through different neural circuits. These data suggest that a knowledge of the specific neural substrates on which different neuromodulators act to influence arousal, in different behavioral settings, will be essential for understanding the circuitry of arousal-related disorders, including addiction. In this proposal, we will address the following questions, using Drosophila as a model system: 1) Does DA influence other forms of arousal, and if so through what circuits? 2) Which other neuromodulators influence arousal, what form(s) of arousal do they control and through which circuits do they act? To address these questions, we will develop a general method to visualize the activation of neuromodulator receptors on specific neural circuits by their endogenous ligands in vivo. We will use this method to visualize the neural circuits that are regulated by different neuromodulators in different behavioral paradigms that are influenced by arousal. If successful, this method should be broadly applicable to a variety of genetically accessible model organisms and could transform studies of neuromodulation and its role in SA, addiction, attentional and hyperactivity disorders, and sleep disturbances.

Public Health Relevance

Neuromodulators such as dopamine play a key role in substance abuse, ADHD and sleep disorders. All of these disorders are linked to disturbances in arousal. Whether there are different forms of arousal, each linked to different behaviors and behavioral disorders, and the role of different neuromodulators in controlling various forms of arousal, is poorly understood. This proposal aims to develop new methodology to systematically map the roles of different neuromodulators in different settings of arousal.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA031389-02
Application #
8231421
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-NT-B (08))
Program Officer
Pollock, Jonathan D
Project Start
2011-03-01
Project End
2016-01-31
Budget Start
2012-02-01
Budget End
2013-01-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$364,500
Indirect Cost
$139,500
Name
California Institute of Technology
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
009584210
City
Pasadena
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
91125
Duistermars, Brian J; Pfeiffer, Barret D; Hoopfer, Eric D et al. (2018) A Brain Module for Scalable Control of Complex, Multi-motor Threat Displays. Neuron 100:1474-1490.e4
Watanabe, Kiichi; Chiu, Hui; Pfeiffer, Barret D et al. (2017) A Circuit Node that Integrates Convergent Input from Neuromodulatory and Social Behavior-Promoting Neurons to Control Aggression in Drosophila. Neuron 95:1112-1128.e7
Anderson, David J (2016) Circuit modules linking internal states and social behaviour in flies and mice. Nat Rev Neurosci 17:692-704
Hoopfer, Eric D; Jung, Yonil; Inagaki, Hidehiko K et al. (2015) P1 interneurons promote a persistent internal state that enhances inter-male aggression in Drosophila. Elife 4:
Gibson, William T; Gonzalez, Carlos R; Fernandez, Conchi et al. (2015) Behavioral responses to a repetitive visual threat stimulus express a persistent state of defensive arousal in Drosophila. Curr Biol 25:1401-15
Kennedy, Ann; Asahina, Kenta; Hoopfer, Eric et al. (2014) Internal States and Behavioral Decision-Making: Toward an Integration of Emotion and Cognition. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 79:199-210
Inagaki, Hidehiko K; Panse, Ketaki M; Anderson, David J (2014) Independent, reciprocal neuromodulatory control of sweet and bitter taste sensitivity during starvation in Drosophila. Neuron 84:806-20
Asahina, Kenta; Watanabe, Kiichi; Duistermars, Brian J et al. (2014) Tachykinin-expressing neurons control male-specific aggressive arousal in Drosophila. Cell 156:221-35
Lim, Rod S; Eyjólfsdóttir, Eyrún; Shin, Euncheol et al. (2014) How food controls aggression in Drosophila. PLoS One 9:e105626
Inagaki, Hidehiko K; Jung, Yonil; Hoopfer, Eric D et al. (2014) Optogenetic control of Drosophila using a red-shifted channelrhodopsin reveals experience-dependent influences on courtship. Nat Methods 11:325-32

Showing the most recent 10 out of 14 publications