Transformation of information about ethnologically-relevant cues into naturalistic patterns of action.

The goal of the Datta laboratory is to address how the brain extracts information from the environment and converts that information into action. Given that olfaction is the primary sense used by most animals to communicate with their environment, they focus on characterizing circuits that detect and respond to scents from food, predators and mates, which can drive complex solitary and social behaviors, alter neuroendocrine states and act as unconditioned stimuli to facilitate learning. The motor behaviors elicited by odors are rich in dynamics, and offer a powerful window into how the brain creates adaptive patterns of action.