Dr. Alexandra M. Yarger
Dynamic Sensory Systems and Insect Flight
I am a research associate in the Department of Bioengineering at Imperial College London. I'm interested in identifying efficient solutions for detecting and processing sensory information to produce appropriate behavioural outputs. I use insects as model systems, due to their tractability for experimental manipulation and because they possess many highly specialized sensory organs. Their ability to fly is also an ideal context for investigating dynamic multisensory information processing for complex behaviours. My research investigates fundamental principles of neuroscience and has direct applications for the development of bioinspired technologies including fast and efficient sensing and actuation in autonomous robotic systems. I am also interested in the diversity and specialization of flight structures and strategies and how interactions between morphology and behaviour have contributed to the co-evolution of body and brain.
Current Research
My research in Dr. Holger Krapp's lab investigates how visual and motor systems work together to control flight. I am currently using butterflies to investigate how wing flapping modulates the activity of rotation-sensitive visual neurons. By combining neurophysiology, computational modelling, and behavior, my work aims to uncover the principles of sensorimotor integration that allow insects to effectively navigate complex and ever-changing environments.
My research in Dr. Huai-Ti Lin’s lab uses dragonflies to study fast and efficient ensorimotor control strategies. Dragonflies are exceptional fliers, capable of remarkable speed and manoeuvrability across a diverse repertoire of behaviours. Understanding how they achieve such control has implications that extend beyond biology, offering insights into the design of efficient and adaptive technologies, including energy-saving aircraft and autonomous robotic systems.