Feeding behavior is critical to survival in all animal species. Each type of animal employs different motor strategies in order to achieve this behavior. These movements are under neural control in all species. Invertebrate animals with simple nervous systems are useful model systems for understanding neural control of behaviors in more complex vertebrates. Dr. Ayers will study feeding behavior in lobsters. Although much is known about the isolated activity of neurons controlling motor patterns in lobsters, little information is available about how the motor patterns function in the freely-moving animal during the time that it is searching for, ingesting, and digesting its food. Using the sonar telemetric instrumentation under development, recordings from muscles can be made in undisturbed animals while they are feeding in a natural environment. This work will contribute significantly to basic understanding of how elements of the nervous system control feeding behavior.
