Behavioral Electrophysiology in Manduca sexta: The Explore/Exploit Framework

Animal behavior is inherently multi-scale. Traditional neuroethology approaches have focused on the neural circuit level and free behavior level studies. In bridging the behavioral-neural divide, simultaneous neural recordings with behavioral readouts have been immensely successful in recent years. However, such studies often need vast resources and technological investment, often with fragile and expensive measurement tools. Therefore, there is a need for frugal-science-style devices for neuroethology. We define a class of such tools called "Exploratory Tools" using a six-point criteria. These are tools meant to be used in an exploratory manner in overcoming methodological challenges in technically complex and uncertain experiments. We outline their utility under the "Explore/Exploit framework," an approach involving the use of such specialized "Exploratory Tools" in combination with conventional, high-end devices. We advocate for the adoption of this type of framework into academic culture. As case-study for such tools, we performed "Behavioral Electrophysiology" on the hawkmoth Manduca sexta with simultaneous measurement of neural activity and flapping force. The force measurements were made with a novel, low-cost force transducer as a binary behavioral readout. This hybrid approach enabled an assessment of our experimental challenges, and allowed us to test critical innovations such as a wing-release mechanism and a new kind of syringe-hook apparatus.