Gušteri kao modelni organizmi u neuroznanosti i neuroetologiji

undergraduate thesis

• Title (english): Lizards as model organisms in neuroscience and neuroethology
• Author: Josipa Andrić
• Mentor: Sofia Ana Blažević (mentor)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2023-09-22, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

Fokus neuroznanosti je proučavanje živčanog sustava na različitim razinama, od gena do
proteina, stanica, sinapsi te obrazaca ponašanja. S druge strane, glavni fokus neuroetologije je
proučavanje neuronskih mehanizama koji uvjetuju ponašanje životinja. Pristranosti pri odabiru
vrsta, spolova i eksperimentalnih uvjeta otežavaju napredak u neuroznanstvenim
istraživanjima. Većina istraživanja je rađena na glodavcima te uključuje samo jedinke muškog
spola ili ne promatra spol kao eksperimentalnu varijablu koja ima utjecaj na rezultate.
Preferiranje visoko kontroliranih laboratorijskih uvjeta, u kojima su životinje u ograničenom
fizičkom kontaktu, onemogućuje bilježenje složenog socijalnog ponašanja. Problem su i
razlike laboratorijskih i terenskih eksperimenata koje se mogu ukloniti izvođenjem
eksperimenata u poluprirodnim uvjetima. Gušteri su važni modelni organizmi u
neuroznanstvenim i neuroetološkim istraživanjima, posebice kod proučavanja središnjih
generatora uzoraka te antipredatorskog i anksioznog ponašanja. Središnji generatori uzoraka
su neuronski krugovi odgovorni za provedbu i kontrolu ritmičkih pokreta u odsutnosti vanjskih
podražaja. Njihova uloga u oporavku ozljeda leđne moždine na modelu gušterica predmet je
mnogih istraživanja.

Abstract (english)

The focus of neuroscience is the study of the nervous systems at various levels, from genes to
proteins, cells, synapses and behavioral patterns. Neuroethology is, on the other hand, focused
on the neural mechanisms that determine animal behavior. Species, sex and environmental
biases make progress in neuroscientific research difficult. Most studies are done on rodents and
involve only male subjects or don't consider sex as an experimental variable that has an impact
on research data. Bias towards highly controlled laboratory conditions, in which animals are in
limited physical contact, makes it impossible to examine complex social behaviors. Differences
between laboratory and field experiments are also a problem that can be solved by conducting
experiments in semi-natural conditions. Lizards are important model organisms in
neuroscientific and neuroethological research, especially for studying central pattern
generators, antipredatory and anxious behavior. Central pattern generators are neural circuits
responsible for the implementation and control of rhythmic movements in the absence of
sensory inputs. Their role in the recovery of spinal cord injuries on a lizard model is the subject
of many studies.

• Keywords: pristranost u istraživanju; antipredatorsko ponašanje; središnji generatori uzoraka
• Keywords (english): bias in research; antipredatory behavior; central pattern generators
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:354928
• Study programme: Title: Ecology; Study programme type: university; Study level: undergraduate; Academic / professional title: sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) biologije (sveučilišni/a prvostupnik/prvostupnica (baccalaureus/baccalaurea) biologije)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2023-10-02 12:14:45