In the Gray lab we are interested in discovering general principles of how nervous systems produce and control complex adaptive behaviours. We use a virtual reality flight simulator in conjunction with state of the art multineuronal recording techniques as well as a free flight wind tunnel to investigate aspects of adaptive insect flight. Click on the links to the left for a more complete description of the research and the people in the lab.

I am also a member of the U of S Neural Systems and Plasticity Research Group and the Division of Biomedical Engineering

A story on the research in the lab was recently aired on the Discovery Channel's Daily Planet (www.exn.ca). Click here for video

Selected Publications:

Guest, B. B. and Gray, J. R. (2006). Responses of a looming-sensitive neuron to compound and paired object approaches. J.Neurophysiol. 95:1428-1441. (PDF)

Gray, J.R. (2005) Habituated visual neurons in locusts remain sensitive to novel looming objects
J.Exp.Biol. 208:2515-2532. (PDF)

Gray, J.R. and J.C. Weeks.  (2003) Steroid-induced dendritic regression reduces anatomical contacts between neurons during synaptic weakening and the developmental loss of a behavior.  J.Neurosci. 23:1406-1415.

Gray, J.R., V. Pawlowski and M.A. Willis. (2002) A method for recording behavior and multineuronal CNS activity from tethered insects flying in virtual space. J.Neurosci.Methods. 120(2):211-223.

Gray J.R., J.K. Lee and R.M. Robertson. (2001) Activity of DCMD neurons and collision avoidance behaviour in response to head-on visual stimuli in locusts. J.Comp.Physiol[A]. 187:115-129.

Gray J.R. (1997) Neurons associated with a novel motor pattern expressed during metamorphosis of the hawkmoth, Manduca sexta. Biol. Bull. 193:259-260.

Gray, J.R. and R.M. Robertson. (1997) Co-ordination of the flight motor pattern with forewing stretch receptor stimulation in immature and mature adult locusts. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 118A:(1)125-130.