{"id":{"repo_id":"uwo","oai_identifier":"oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/33024"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uwo/oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/33024","repository":{"repo_id":"uwo","name":"Western University","base_url":"https://uwo.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Elucidating the neural circuitry underlying social spacing in Drosophila melanogaster through the lens of neuroligin 3","abstract":"Social interactions among animals can be complex, and abnormal social behaviours may result in negative fitness consequences for both the individual displaying them, and the entire group. To understand the neural basis of complex social behaviour, we can study simpler behaviours that precede and mediate them. Social spacing, the typical distance between individuals in a group, is an easily quantifiable behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster. Here, I investigated the neural circuitry underlying social spacing through the lens of Autism-candidate gene neuroligin 3. Based on the Nlg3 enrichment pattern in adult fly brains, I hypothesized that nlg3-expressing neurons, along with the mushroom bodies and protocerebral bridge, were involved in this behaviour. I determined that all the aforementioned structures are involved, and there is likely sexual dimorphism in this neural circuitry. This research contributes to understanding the role Nlg3 plays in social spacing and reveals more routes of neural connectivity to be investigated.","abstract_html":"Social interactions among animals can be complex, and abnormal social behaviours may result in negative fitness consequences for both the individual displaying them, and the entire group. To understand the neural basis of complex social behaviour, we can study simpler behaviours that precede and mediate them. Social spacing, the typical distance between individuals in a group, is an easily quantifiable behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster. Here, I investigated the neural circuitry underlying social spacing through the lens of Autism-candidate gene neuroligin 3. Based on the Nlg3 enrichment pattern in adult fly brains, I hypothesized that nlg3-expressing neurons, along with the mushroom bodies and protocerebral bridge, were involved in this behaviour. I determined that all the aforementioned structures are involved, and there is likely sexual dimorphism in this neural circuitry. This research contributes to understanding the role Nlg3 plays in social spacing and reveals more routes of neural connectivity to be investigated.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Bechard, Abigail T"],"institution":"The University of Western Ontario","degree_name":"M Sc","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Biology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Simon, Anne F."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2023,"date_issued":"2023-06-06","date_published":"2023-06-06","updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:56:05Z","subjects":["social behaviour","behavioural genetics","neuroligin","mushroom bodies","social space","neural circuitry"],"languages":["en_ca"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/33024","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Simon, Anne F."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Bechard, Abigail T"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-07-10T19:41:08Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-07-10T19:41:08Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2023-06-06"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["The University of Western Ontario"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Biology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["M Sc"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["social behaviour","behavioural genetics","neuroligin","mushroom bodies","social space","neural circuitry"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en_ca"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/33024"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["The thesis cover page in the PDF document includes references to Western University’s previous institutional repository platform, known as Scholarship@Western, and links to that platform (beginning with ir.lib.uwo.ca). In citing or referring to this thesis, use the DOI or handle from this page instead. Sample citation: Author name, \"Thesis title.\" (Year). Western University Open Repository. https://doi.org/10.71858/123456."]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Social interactions among animals can be complex, and abnormal social behaviours may result in negative fitness consequences for both the individual displaying them, and the entire group. To understand the neural basis of complex social behaviour, we can study simpler behaviours that precede and mediate them. Social spacing, the typical distance between individuals in a group, is an easily quantifiable behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster. Here, I investigated the neural circuitry underlying social spacing through the lens of Autism-candidate gene neuroligin 3. Based on the Nlg3 enrichment pattern in adult fly brains, I hypothesized that nlg3-expressing neurons, along with the mushroom bodies and protocerebral bridge, were involved in this behaviour. I determined that all the aforementioned structures are involved, and there is likely sexual dimorphism in this neural circuitry. This research contributes to understanding the role Nlg3 plays in social spacing and reveals more routes of neural connectivity to be investigated."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Elucidating the neural circuitry underlying social spacing in Drosophila melanogaster through the lens of neuroligin 3"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Simon, Anne F."],"dc:creator":["Bechard, Abigail T"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-07-10T19:41:08Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-07-10T19:41:08Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2023-06-06"],"dc:description":["The thesis cover page in the PDF document includes references to Western University’s previous institutional repository platform, known as Scholarship@Western, and links to that platform (beginning with ir.lib.uwo.ca). In citing or referring to this thesis, use the DOI or handle from this page instead. Sample citation: Author name, \"Thesis title.\" (Year). Western University Open Repository. https://doi.org/10.71858/123456."],"dc:description.abstract":["Social interactions among animals can be complex, and abnormal social behaviours may result in negative fitness consequences for both the individual displaying them, and the entire group. To understand the neural basis of complex social behaviour, we can study simpler behaviours that precede and mediate them. Social spacing, the typical distance between individuals in a group, is an easily quantifiable behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster. Here, I investigated the neural circuitry underlying social spacing through the lens of Autism-candidate gene neuroligin 3. Based on the Nlg3 enrichment pattern in adult fly brains, I hypothesized that nlg3-expressing neurons, along with the mushroom bodies and protocerebral bridge, were involved in this behaviour. I determined that all the aforementioned structures are involved, and there is likely sexual dimorphism in this neural circuitry. This research contributes to understanding the role Nlg3 plays in social spacing and reveals more routes of neural connectivity to be investigated."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/33024"],"dc:language.iso":["en_ca"],"dc:publisher":["The University of Western Ontario"],"dc:subject":["social behaviour","behavioural genetics","neuroligin","mushroom bodies","social space","neural circuitry"],"dc:title":["Elucidating the neural circuitry underlying social spacing in Drosophila melanogaster through the lens of neuroligin 3"],"dc:type":["thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Biology"],"thesis:degree_name":["M Sc"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:56:05Z"}