Research

Our lab brings together researchers interested in developing our understanding of how acoustic and vibratory senses connect individuals with their environment. Our interest lays on acoustic communication in mammals and insects. While most projects in my lab centre around this topic, we aim at exploring a wide range of sensorially driven behaviours in animals and humans.

Biomechanics in insect ears

There are numerous acoustically communicating insects. This project deals with the diversity of the insect ears that have developed independently several times to enable insects to perceive sound. Using Laser Doppler Vibrometer technology, we study the biomechanics of insect ears, from bush crickets (katydids) to locusts and mosquitos.

Involved people: Prof. Dr. Manuela Nowotny & Dr. Henja Wehmann
Collaboration: Dr. Ben Warren (Kelle University, UK)

Neural coding of auditory information

In this project, we investigate the processing of acoustic information coming from the ear in the forelegs in the first integration centre, the prothoracic ganglion of bush crickets. Here, neuronal information of a low number of sensory cells converge to ever fewer cells that project to the brain. Our goal is to understand the timing and precision of this processing step and to relate the finding to the behaviour of the bush crickets.

Involved people: Dr. Annette Stange-Marten
Funding: DFG

Neuroethology, Neuropharmacology and Evolution underlying Insect Communication Systems

Cricket: Gnominthus baitabagus
Image: Dr Stefan Schöneich

Acoustic mate finding and predator avoidance of orthopteroid insects (e.g. crickets, katydids, locusts) is controlled and driven by relatively small neural networks. The aim of this project is to reveal and understand the anatomy and neurophysiological function of the individual neurons of the auditory networks, to investigate the network’s susceptibility to agricultural insecticides and also to reconstruct neurobiological changes that drive the behavioural evolution towards new communication systems.

Head of the project: Stefan Schöneich
Doctoral Student: Marcelo Christian
Funding: DFG grant 458552427
Collaboration: Hannah ter Hofstede (University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada)
Collaboration: Tony Robillard (Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris, France)

NeuroSensEar: Neuromorphic Acoustic Sensing for Tomorrow’s High-Performance Hearing Aids

Firmenlogo Carl Zeiss

Image: Carl Zeiss Stiftung

Hearing loss on the rise – in 2050 about 2.5 billion people worldwide will live with hearing impairment. In this multidisciplinary collaboration project between different research and development groups (Audio-Visual Technology, Micro- and Nanoelectronics Systems and Theoretical Physics II – TU Ilmenau; Institute for Microelectronics and Mechatronic Systems (IMMS); Semantic Music Technology and Electroacoustics - Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Media Technology (IDMT) Ilmenau; Animal Physiology and Sensory Neuroscience - FSU Jena; Energy Materials and Devices - Uni Kiel; Functional Nanomaterials – Uni Ulm) we aim to develop novel innovative and bioinspired solutions to improve the performance of hearing aids for the future.

Involved people: Stefan Schöneich, Manuela Nowotny
Collaboration: NeuroSensEar Consortium (Claudia Lenk - Uni Ulm; Alexander Raake, Kathy Lüdge, Lina Jaurigue, Tzvetan Ivanov, Iko Pieper - TU Ilmenau; Daniel Beer, Paul Fritzsche, Jan Küller, Jakob Abeßer, Hanna Lukashevich, Eric Schäfer, Sebastian Uzil, Tino Hutschenreuther - IMMS & IDMT Ilmenau; Martin Ziegler - Uni Kiel)
Funding: Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung (NeuroSensEar-project)

Functional transformation of ultimate legs in centipedes

Arthropod appendages vary greatly in their shape, size and functions. In centipedes, the first segment of the trunk bears the forcipules: legs transformed into venom injecting weapons. The last pair of legs has also undergone a functional transformation and is never involved in locomotion. In Scutigeromorphs, they seem to play a sensory role, similar to the antennae. Through morphological and electrophysiological methods, we aim to understand the sensory extent of these appendages.

Scutigera coleoptrata: Involved people: Iulia Barutia
Funding: MPI for Chemical Ecology
Collaboration: Dr. Andy Sombke, Prof. Dr. Silke Sachse

Arthropods in motion

Logo von iDiv - German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research

Image: iDiv - German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research

Motion plays a major role for arthropods in finding food or mating partners. Using a high-speed video camera, shakers and morphological methods, we measure the motion of legs and their appendages in various insects.

Ants: Involved people: Dr. Toni Wöhrl
Funding: iDiv Flexpool
Collaboration: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Brose (FSU Jena) & Prof. Dr. Jan Bumberger (Helmholtz Centre for Environmental, Halle) & Julie Koch Sheard PhD (Philipps University Marburg)

Centipedes: Involved people: Iulia Barutia, Dr. Toni Wöhrl
Funding: MPI for Chemical Ecology