Summary
How does the brain transform time into useful information? How is time estimated? How is temporal information associated with neural circuits related to the planning and execution of tasks? The main objective of our laboratory is to investigate these questions to deduce how temporal information is processed and used in the range of seconds to minutes.
In order to study this topic, we designed a device that allows us to measure how the fly Drosophila melanogaster estimates intervals, because the ability to estimate intervals, which consists of counting the time between events and anticipating their next appearance, is a way of making it evident that the brain transforms time into useful information for decision-making.
We teach the flies to measure intervals between the appearance of sugar water. After a few intervals, the flies learn when the next drop will arrive and anticipate it by extending their proboscis (tongue). We are currently studying whether measuring intervals is more like counting time or having a memory of what happened.
Members:
Malena Cortasa
Undergraduate student
