Abstract:

Predatory hunting plays a fundamental role in animal survival. Little is known about the neural circuits that convert sensory cues into neural signals to drive this behavior. Here we identified an excitatory subcortical neural circuit from the superior colliculus to the zona incerta that triggers predatory hunting. The superior colliculus neurons that form this pathway integrate motion-related visual and vibrissal somatosensory cues of prey. During hunting, these neurons send out neural signals that are temporally correlated with predatory attacks, but not with feeding after prey capture. Synaptic inactivation of this pathway selectively blocks hunting for prey without impairing other sensory-triggered behaviors. These data reveal a subcortical neural circuit that is specifically engaged in translating sensory cues into neural signals to provoke predatory hunting. 

Biography:

曹鹏，博士，北京生命科学研究所研究员。2008-2012年，师从诺贝尔奖得主Thomas Südhof 博士，研究神经元囊泡转运的分子机制。2012年5月回国担任中科院生物物理所研究员，2016年8月担任北京生命科学研究所研究员。致力于本能行为的神经生物学机制研究，证明哺乳动物的上丘是启动“趋利-避害”本能行为的关键中枢。作为通讯作者，这些研究成果发表于Science、Nature Neuroscience和Neuron等学术刊物。2018年入选中组部万人计划，2019年获得国家杰出青年科学基金。