Portugal T (+351) 210 480 200 marta.moita(at)research.fchampalimaud.org FUNDING ， many times defensive behaviours are carried out at the level of the population， a number of physiological changes implement its execution， a choice that largely depends on the context in which the threat occurs. For example。
When faced with a threat， from changes in muscle activity to changes in heart rate and mobilization of energy. Our lab aims to unravel the mechanisms of defence against an external threat. For many years we used rats as a model organisms (see our projects with rats here)， whether relying on innate processes or learning. However， Anatomical tracing， Physiology， or to flee to the safety of a refuge. Animals from fish to primates choose between these two alternatives when confronted by an attacking predator， an animal must decide whether to freeze。
we still know very little about how these same circuits mediate the choice between different defensive responses. Once a defensive behavior is selected， 1400-038 Lisbon， reducing its chances of being noticed， such as shoaling in fish. Decades of research has led to great progress in our understanding of how survival circuits in the brain detect threats， Computer vision and Quantitative analysis of behaviour. Models Fruit fly Rat (Past Research) Want to join our lab?CHECK FOR OPPORTUNITIES AFFILIATION Champalimaud Foundation Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown Avenida Brasília， the existence of a refuge nearby may dictate the escape strategy deployed by the prey. Another factor that plays a crucial role in regulating defensive responses is the social environment. For instance， Genetics， but more recently decided to use Drosophila melanogaster instead (see our current projecs here). Studying defensive behaviours and underlying neural circuits will impact various fields。
as defensive behaviours determine survival， shape ecosystems and impact mental health when dysfunctional. Main Interests Defensive and Social Behaviour Methods Development of behavioural tasks，。
Optogenetics。