Gönülkirmaz-Cancalar, Özlem

Circadian rhythms regulate many physiological and behavioral responses. Their role in insect navigation at the level neuronal computation is still poorly understood. I am interested in exploring the neuronal circuits controlling navigation and their link with sleep and circadian rhythms in insects, specifically the desert ant and fruit fly. My goal is to understand how time of day information is integrated in central complex, thus learning about clock-compass interactions. I plan to combine imaging techniques and behavioral assays to achieve this goal.

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