NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
While the nervous system operates with information, the mechanics of the body and the environment in which it is embedded constitute a world of forces. Work on the mechanics of the body and on the nervous system is rarely undertaken in a joint fashion, in part because of the difficulty of comparing these quantities. A theoretical umbrella under which neural information acquisition can be related to mechanics is currently lacking; there is no science of infomechanics. This project will use the model system of weakly electric fish to push forward an understanding of the linkages between obtaining sensory information and movement mechanics. It has recently been shown that, unlike most forward-biased animals which sense objects ahead better than in other directions, electric fish are able to sense in all directions. Complementing this unique sensory capacity is a motor system which allows them reach locations all around the body quickly. The very high degree of coupling between sensation and movement in these animals makes them ideal for elucidating the principles connecting mechanics to sensory processing. The kinematics and dynamics of this unique motor system will be studied through use of a highly stereotyped refuge-tracking behavior and work on an advanced electric fish robot. The neural basis of sensory-guided movement will be examined through a study of the encoding of locomotor signals in the brain. Finally, a robotic model of a closed-loop sensory tracking behavior present in fish will be used to test hypotheses of how the processing of object features is connected with movement control. This work will result in the training of one postdoctoral associate and several graduate students in interdisciplinary research spanning behavior, neurobiology, robotics, and fluid dynamics.
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| AWARD OVERVIEW |
| Award Number |
0846032 |
Funding Agency |
National Science Foundation |
| Total Award Amount |
$1,250,000 |
Project Location - City |
Evanston |
| Award Date |
07/27/2009 |
Project Location - State |
IL |
| Project Status |
More than 50% Completed |
Project Location - Zip |
60208-1110
|
| Jobs Reported |
2.54 |
Congressional District |
09 |
| Project Location - Country |
US |
|
|
Recipient Information
(Grants)
| Recipient Information (Grants) |
|
Recipient Name
|
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY |
| Recipient DUNS Number |
160079455
|
| Recipient Address |
633 CLARK ST EVANSTON |
| Recipient City |
EVANSTON |
| Recipient State |
Illinois |
| Recipient Zip |
60208-0001 |
| Recipient Congressional District |
09 |
| Recipient Country |
USA |
Required to Report Top 5
Highly Compensated Officials |
No |
Projects and Jobs Information
| Projects and Jobs Information |
| Project Title |
CAREER: Infomechanics - The Interdependence of Animal Information Acquisition and Mechanics |
| Project Status |
More than 50% Completed |
| Final Project Report Submitted |
No |
| Project Activities Description |
Research & Public Policy Analysis |
| Quarterly Activities/Project Description |
Great progress occurred in the last reporting period: First, we completed and submitted for publication what we are certain is a very important study of the kinematics of prey capture in larval zebrafish. Our analysis, just completed, shows that these animals are able to systematically bias their movements according to the visual position of their prey. Our detailed analysis of how movement varies with prey azimuth and prey distance sets up a host of predictions on the neural control of goal directed body movement. Second, we completed the first stage of the development of a model of the larval zebrafish for computational fluid dynamics analysis. Our first free swimming trials, where we change the shape of the fish according to measured changes but do not translate, show that our simulation is able to match measured behavior well. Third, we presented our current work on both these fronts on a special conference on Prey Capture Dynamics at HHMI Janelia Farms, March 6-9. Finally, we have completed the 3D design and printing of a specialized stage needed for our virtual reality system for zebrafish. |
| Jobs Created |
2.54 |
| Description of Jobs Created |
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds have significantly aided the research mission of Northwestern University by providing salary and wage compensation for individuals directly involved in ARRA-funded projects, both at Northwestern and at consortium institutions, as well as at the vendor organizations who provide goods and services in support of that mission. Northwestern has employed a standard methodology for determining jobs created or retained, based on revised guidance presented by OMB on 12-18-09 (ref. M-10-08). Jobs are reported in aggregate for the grant, comprised of calculated figures for hourly and salaried employees at Northwestern plus the reported jobs created or retained by subrecipients. The number of Northwestern hourly employees will be calculated as the number of hours charged to the grant during the quarter divided by the standard hours in a full-time schedule for the quarter. The number of Northwestern salaried employees will be calculated based on the salaries charged to the ARRA fund during the quarter. Following is a list of descriptions for jobs created or retained, in whole or in part, by this ARRA funded project:Post Doctoral Fellow,Research Aide,Research Assistant. |
Purchaser Information
(Grants)
| Purchaser Information |
| Contracting Office ID |
Not Reported |
| Contracting Office Name |
Not Available |
| Contracting Office Region |
Not Available |
| TAS Major Program |
49-0101 |
| Award Information |
| Award Date |
07/27/2009 |
| Award Number |
0846032 |
| Order Number |
|
| Award Type |
Grants |
| Funding Agency ID |
49 |
| Funding Agency Name |
National Science Foundation |
| Funding Office Name |
Not Available |
| Awarding Agency ID |
49 |
| Awarding Agency Name |
National Science Foundation |
| Amount of Award |
$1,250,000 |
| Funds Invoiced/Received |
$819,243 |
| Expenditure Amount |
$857,924 |
| Infrastructure Expenditure Amount |
$0 |
| Infrastructure Purpose and Rationale |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Name |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Email |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Phone |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Address |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact City |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact State |
Not Reported |
| Infrastructure Point of Contact Zip |
Not Reported |
Product or Service Information
(Grants)
| Product or Service Information |
| Primary Activity Code |
**K |
| Activity Description |
Research & Public Policy Analysis |
| Sub-Awards Information |
| Sub-awards to Organizations |
0 |
| Sub-award Amounts to Organizations |
$0 |
| Sub-Awards to Individuals |
0 |
| Sub-Award Amounts to Individuals |
$0 |
| Number of Sub-awards less than $25,000/award |
0 |
| Amount of Sub-awards less than $25,000/award |
$0 |
| Number of payments to vendors greater than $25,000 |
2 |
| Total Amount of payments to vendors greater than $25,000/award |
$255,064 |
| Number of payments to vendors less than $25,000/award |
35 |
| Total Amount of payments to vendors less than $25,000/award |
$39,461 |
SCIENTIFICA - Award Number 0846032 - SCIENTIFICA
| Award Number |
0846032 |
| Sub-Award Number |
N/A |
| Vendor DUNS Number |
Not reported |
| Vendor HQ Zip Code + 4 |
TN22 1QQ |
| Vendor Name |
SCIENTIFICA |
| Product and Service Description |
Scientific Instr-Capital |
| Payment Amount |
$119,279 |
SCIENTIFICA - Award Number 0846032 - SCIENTIFICA
| Award Number |
0846032 |
| Sub-Award Number |
N/A |
| Vendor DUNS Number |
Not reported |
| Vendor HQ Zip Code + 4 |
TN22 1QQ |
| Vendor Name |
SCIENTIFICA |
| Product and Service Description |
Scientific Instr-Capital |
| Payment Amount |
$135,786 |
| Location Information |
| Latitude, Longitude |
42º 3' 20",
-87º 40' 28" |
| Congressional District |
09 |
| Address 1 |
633 Clark St |
| Address 2 |
|
| City |
Evanston |
| County |
Cook |
| State |
IL |
| Zip |
60208-1110 |
|
 |