Computational model predicts the neural mechanisms of prepulse inhibition in Drosophila larvae

Abstract Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is a behavioural phenomenon in which a preceding weaker stimulus suppresses the startle response to a subsequent stimulus. The effect of PPI has been found to be reduced in psychiatric patients and is a promising neurophysiological indicator of psychiatric disorder...

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Main Authors: Kotaro Furuya, Yuki Katsumata, Masayuki Ishibashi, Yutaro Matsumoto, Takako Morimoto, Toru Aonishi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2022-09-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19210-8
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author Kotaro Furuya
Yuki Katsumata
Masayuki Ishibashi
Yutaro Matsumoto
Takako Morimoto
Toru Aonishi
author_facet Kotaro Furuya
Yuki Katsumata
Masayuki Ishibashi
Yutaro Matsumoto
Takako Morimoto
Toru Aonishi
author_sort Kotaro Furuya
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is a behavioural phenomenon in which a preceding weaker stimulus suppresses the startle response to a subsequent stimulus. The effect of PPI has been found to be reduced in psychiatric patients and is a promising neurophysiological indicator of psychiatric disorders. Because the neural circuit of the startle response has been identified at the cellular level, investigating the mechanism underlying PPI in Drosophila melanogaster larvae through experiment-based mathematical modelling can provide valuable insights. We recently identified PPI in Drosophila larvae and found that PPI was reduced in larvae mutated with the Centaurin gamma 1A (CenG1A) gene, which may be associated with autism. In this study, we used numerical simulations to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying PPI in Drosophila larvae. We adjusted the parameters of a previously developed Drosophila larvae computational model and demonstrated that the model could reproduce several behaviours, including PPI. An analysis of the temporal changes in neuronal activity when PPI occurs using our neural circuit model suggested that the activity of specific neurons triggered by prepulses has a considerable effect on PPI. Furthermore, we validated our speculations on PPI reduction in CenG1A mutants with simulations.
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spelling doaj.art-e3bae8ff969b424d85a41f2ddf832d0f2022-12-22T04:24:52ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-09-0112111210.1038/s41598-022-19210-8Computational model predicts the neural mechanisms of prepulse inhibition in Drosophila larvaeKotaro Furuya0Yuki Katsumata1Masayuki Ishibashi2Yutaro Matsumoto3Takako Morimoto4Toru Aonishi5School of Computing, Tokyo Institute of TechnologySchool of Computing, Tokyo Institute of TechnologySchool of Computing, Tokyo Institute of TechnologySchool of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life SciencesSchool of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life SciencesSchool of Computing, Tokyo Institute of TechnologyAbstract Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is a behavioural phenomenon in which a preceding weaker stimulus suppresses the startle response to a subsequent stimulus. The effect of PPI has been found to be reduced in psychiatric patients and is a promising neurophysiological indicator of psychiatric disorders. Because the neural circuit of the startle response has been identified at the cellular level, investigating the mechanism underlying PPI in Drosophila melanogaster larvae through experiment-based mathematical modelling can provide valuable insights. We recently identified PPI in Drosophila larvae and found that PPI was reduced in larvae mutated with the Centaurin gamma 1A (CenG1A) gene, which may be associated with autism. In this study, we used numerical simulations to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying PPI in Drosophila larvae. We adjusted the parameters of a previously developed Drosophila larvae computational model and demonstrated that the model could reproduce several behaviours, including PPI. An analysis of the temporal changes in neuronal activity when PPI occurs using our neural circuit model suggested that the activity of specific neurons triggered by prepulses has a considerable effect on PPI. Furthermore, we validated our speculations on PPI reduction in CenG1A mutants with simulations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19210-8
spellingShingle Kotaro Furuya
Yuki Katsumata
Masayuki Ishibashi
Yutaro Matsumoto
Takako Morimoto
Toru Aonishi
Computational model predicts the neural mechanisms of prepulse inhibition in Drosophila larvae
Scientific Reports
title Computational model predicts the neural mechanisms of prepulse inhibition in Drosophila larvae
title_full Computational model predicts the neural mechanisms of prepulse inhibition in Drosophila larvae
title_fullStr Computational model predicts the neural mechanisms of prepulse inhibition in Drosophila larvae
title_full_unstemmed Computational model predicts the neural mechanisms of prepulse inhibition in Drosophila larvae
title_short Computational model predicts the neural mechanisms of prepulse inhibition in Drosophila larvae
title_sort computational model predicts the neural mechanisms of prepulse inhibition in drosophila larvae
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19210-8
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