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Abstract:
Precise neuronal synaptic connectivity and its modulation by chemical signaling are ultimately responsible for the circuit dynamics controlling effector activity during behavior. We currently have little information on the complete synaptic connectivity (connectome) of entire neuronal circuits and how these are modulated. The establishment of new, small, relatively simple model organisms could greatly benefit neuroscience by allowing whole-body connectomics and by expanding the range of nervous system phenomena that can be studied. We work on the larval stages of the marine annelid Platynereis dumerilii that has recently emerged as a powerful experimental system for the study of neural circuits and neuromodulation in a whole-body context. We use connectomics, neurogenetics, activity imaging, and behavioral experiments to understand how circuits influence behavior and physiology in the planktonic larvae of Platynereis. By studying different larval stages, we can also gain insights into how circuit maturation influences larval behavior during development.
