# Visuomotor Coordinate Transformation During Drosophila Chasing Behavior

> **NIH NIH F31** · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · 2024 · $34,444

## Abstract

Abstract
Sensorimotor integration often requires the brain to transform its representation of space between different
coordinate systems. The mechanism of visuomotor coordinate transformation has been heavily investigated from
a theoretical perspective and in the context of visually-guided arm, head, and eye movements in mammals.
However, the underlying neural computations are still not well-understood. Coordinate transformations are also
essential to visuomotor behavior in insects, and I am now uniquely positioned to address this question by
leveraging the full brain connectome and genetic toolkit available in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Indeed,
I have discovered a neural network in the Drosophila brain that appears well-positioned to perform such an
inference. Therefore, I will use two-photon calcium imaging and whole cell recordings in walking flies to
functionally and anatomically dissect the circuitry that underlies steering during object pursuit behavior. In doing
so, this project will provide a mechanistic dissection of the control systems and coordinate transformations that
guide visuomotor coupling.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10755613
- **Project number:** 5F31NS130782-02
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
- **Principal Investigator:** Matthew Collie
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $34,444
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-02-01 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10755613

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10755613, Visuomotor Coordinate Transformation During Drosophila Chasing Behavior (5F31NS130782-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10755613. Licensed CC0.

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