B. Webb

Isocitrate dehydrogenase 3b is required for spermiogenesis but dispensable for retinal degeneration

This study shows IDH3B is essential for spermiogenesis but not retinal health, as Idh3b-knockout mice are infertile but have normal vision.

Impact of central complex lesions on visual orientation in ants: Turning behaviour, but not the overall movement direction, is disrupted

This study shows that central complex lesions in wood ants disrupt turning behavior but not overall movement direction, speed, or path straightness.

A unified mechanism for innate and learned visual landmark guidance in the insect central complex

This paper models how insects integrate innate and learned visual landmark guidance using a neural architecture inspired by the central complex and mushroom bodies.

Spatio-temporal Memory for Navigation in a Mushroom Body Model

This paper proposes a spiking neural network model of the mushroom body to encode spatio-temporal visual memory for insect navigation, showing it can distinguish learned from unlearned routes with noise tolerance.

A physical theory of movement in small animals

This paper develops an effective physical theory to explain Drosophila larval movement behaviors using statistical mechanics and symmetry principles, showing it predicts various postural modes and dynamics.

Transfer of orientation memories in untethered wood ants (Formica rufa) from walking in an arena to walking on a motion compensation treadmill

This study validates a motion compensating treadmill for studying navigational behavior in wood ants, showing memory transfer from arena to treadmill contexts.

Mushroom bodies are required for accurate visual navigation in ants

This study shows that mushroom bodies are required for learned visual navigation in ants, as lesions impair their ability to navigate to a remembered food location while leaving innate visual responses intact.

From skylight input to behavioural output: a computational model of the insect polarised light compass

This paper presents a computational model of the insect polarized light compass that estimates solar azimuth and accounts for sensor tilt and time changes, demonstrating robustness and applicability to path integration.

Mechanics of exploration in Drosophila melanogaster

This study models the mechanical and neuromuscular dynamics of Drosophila larval movement, showing that spontaneous exploration arises from chaotic body mechanics and reflexive neuromuscular responses.