Research in Neurobiology - Electronically-guided flight
Scientists at ARLDN are building devices small enough to be carried by the moth, to control the insect's flight behavior by "remote control". One way to do this is to deliver "whiffs" of artificial pheromone directly to the sensory organs. Another approach would be to send electrical signals directly to the olfactory lobe of the brain.
The image at the right shows a scientist using a dissecting microscope to implant electrodes in a Manduca's brain.
To better understand the nerve signals that are produced during flight, a tiny instrument package has been developed that can be attached to the moth without affecting its ability to fly. The package includes a radio that transmits data from the moth's nervous system to a standard FM radio. (A major challenge has been finding a lighter battery for the instrument!)