Research · Cnidarian

Hydra

From neural firing to behavior

The small, transparent Hydra lets us connect neural activity directly to behavior. How do neural inputs drive muscle activation and the biomechanics of the whole body?

Hydra calcium imaging, Dupré & Yuste (2017)

The small, transparent cnidarian Hydra is an excellent model system in which to connect neural activation patterns with behavior. Its whole nervous system can be imaged at once while the animal moves.

We are building models to understand how neural inputs drive muscle activation and the biomechanics of the body, from neural drive to muscle to movement.

Selected papers

Wang et al. (2023). A complete biomechanical model of Hydra contractile behaviors, from neural drive to muscle to movement. PNAS 120, e2210439120.
Lagache et al. (2021). Tracking calcium dynamics from individual neurons in behaving animals. PLoS Comput Biol 17, e1009432.

All publications →