Many organisms utilize a small number of sensory organs and a centralized nervous system (e.g., the paired eyes and complex brains of vertebrates) to acquire and process information. In contrast, other species have evolved distributed sensory networks (DSNs) consisting of dispersed but interconnected sensory elements to sense and respond to external stimuli. Here, we will explore a new research frontier on nature’s strategies for designing efficient and resilient DSNs by investigating a unique model system, i.e., chitons, via a synergistic interdisciplinary collaboration.
Chitons are the only extant mollusks with living tissue embedded within their biomineralized protective shell plates. This innervated tissue (aesthetes) forms a complex three-dimensional (3D) interconnected network that fills thousands of long, narrow channels. These microchannels run through the shell plates and finally extend to the shell surface. It has been shown that the aesthetes perform several sensory functions, particularly photoreception. In addition, the aesthetes of certain chiton species include visual elements with different degree of complexities, ranging from simple photoreceptive organs to eyespots that contribute to spatial vision to image-forming eyes with mineralized lenses! Thousands of these visual sensory organs are distributed across the shell plates, making the system a unique ‘hard-wired’ (embedded in mineralized shells) DSN, through which the organisms collect and process visual information and finally respond.
Current knowledge of chiton DSNs is primarily focused on overall behavioral responses of animals and the fine structures of individual sensory elements. We have very limited knowledge regarding the structure and function of the chiton DSNs on the system level. How are chiton DSNs wired up? How do they function? How resilient are chiton DSNs to damage? Our international, interdisciplinary team of material scientists, biologists, and applied mathematicians will address these three fundamental questions by establishing the complete ‘connectome’ of chiton DSNs and investigating its working mechanisms and system resilience.
The knowledge gained from this research will transform our current understanding of natural DSNs, which may have significant impact on a number of areas, such as distributed sensing structures, living materials, resilient swarm systems, etc.
