Neural basis of threat responses

Escape behaviours have evolved to mitigate harm from predatory threats and other environmental dangers, directly influencing an organism's fitness. Failure to escape life-threatening situations can lead to death or injury, impairing foraging capabilities and social standing. The response to threats is modulated by factors such as the nature of the threat, environmental context, prior experiences, and internal states like hunger or anxiety. Despite their importance, the neural mechanisms underlying threat responses are not well understood.
This study leverages the fruit fly Drosophila as a model system to investigate the neural mechanisms underpinning threat responses. By employing a combination of behavioural assays, live imaging, and connectome analyses, I aim to elucidate the neural basis underlying predatory threat responses. This research will enhance our understanding of how the brain processes and responds to danger, and how threat experience influences subsequent behaviours at a molecular, cellular, and neural circuit level.