Naturalistic Neuroscience:
New possibilities using Machine Learning and Virtual Reality

Understanding how brains operate in complex, natural environments is an open question at the frontier of modern neuroscience. Pollinators such as bees manage to traverse kilometer-long routes using a miniature brain 100,000x smaller than our own. Bees are thus compelling animal models for elucidating the principles of neural computation in natural environments.

We have developed new machine learning approaches to replicate naturalistic 3-D insect flight within Virtual Reality (VR). We use the insect's own wings as its "steering wheel" or "yoke", letting the animal fly through the computer-generated environment according to its preferred 3-D flight direction.

This new technique could support exciting new research directions, for example allowing future studies to monitor brain activity in important pollinator species during long-distance 3-D foraging and learning.

Dissecting complex behavior using Computational Neuroethology

How do animals correctly order their actions to achieve more complex goals? The emerging field of Computational Neuroethology utilizes automated methods to quantify the behavioral rules underlying complex behavior. Such tools include automated animal pose tracking, unsupervised action classification, quantification of behavior transition statistics, and more.

In our work, we develop and apply each of these methods. Previously, we quantified the intricate construction rules underlying spider web-making. We are currently developing exciting new assays for the automated, high-throughput acquisition of large-scale datasets demonstrating learning of navigational goals in bumblebees.

Mechanistic neuroscience of natural cognition

Insects and other arthropods generate complex behaviors with brains that are 100,000x smaller than our own. In our research, we leverage the miniature neuroanatomy of insect systems to reveal fundamental principles of neural computation at cellular resolution.

In previous work, we developed a custom two-photon microscope for volumetric imaging of neural population activity in live spiders (U. diversus), alongside an accompanying brain atlas of this species.

Our 3-D virtual reality flight system (pictured above) has been designed from its inception for compatibility with future electrophysiological recordings from tethered insects during naturalistic virtual reality foraging flights. We aim to pursue these avenues in the future.

Publications

  1. Review: Big Data
    Abel Corver and Stanley Heinze
    Invited manuscript in preparation for Current Biology (2026)
  2. Multi-kilohertz real-time pose estimation for virtual reality 3-D insect flight
    Abel Corver*, B Nordström Ståbi, Nicolas Nagloo, Vid Kralj, and Stanley Heinze
    Manuscript in preparation (2026)
    * Corresponding Author
  3. Dynamic vibration-driven feedback shapes predator–prey interactions in an orb-weaving spider
    Hsin-Yi Hung, Abel Corver, and Andrew Gordus
    PLOS Computational Biology (Accepted, 2026)
    DOI
  4. A three-dimensional immunofluorescence atlas of the brain of the hackled-orb weaver spider, Uloborus diversus
    Gregory Artiushin, Abel Corver, and Andrew Gordus
    eLife (2025)
    DOI
  5. Sensorimotor dynamics of the web-making behavior of the spider Uloborus diversus
    Abel Corver
    JScholarship Thesis Repository (2024)
    DOI
  6. An optogenetic assay for the dauer decision in Caenorhabditis elegans
    Ariel Parker, J Mullins, Abel Corver, A Miller, I Mosley, and Andrew Gordus
    bioRxiv (2024)
    DOI
  7. Human scent guides mosquito thermotaxis and host selection under naturalistic conditions
    Diego Giraldo, S Rankin-Turner, Abel Corver, GM Tauxe, AL Gao, DM Jackson, L Simubali, C Book, JC Stevenson, PE Thuma, A Gordus, MM Mburu, E Simulundu, and Conor J McMeniman
    Current Biology (2023)
    DOI
  8. Distinct movement patterns generate stages of spider web-building
    Abel Corver, N Wilkerson, J Miller, and Andrew G Gordus
    Current Biology (2021)
    DOI
  9. Semaphorin 2b Regulates Sleep-Circuit Formation in Drosophila
    X Xie, M Tabuchi, Abel Corver, G Duan, MN Wu, AL Kolodkin
    Neuron (2019)
    DOI

Teaching

  • 2026 Lecturer
    Neurobiology (BIOR58)
    Lund University — Department of Biology
  • 2026 Project Supervisor
    Project Course in Biology (BIOF09)
    Lund University — Department of Biology
  • 2026 Project Supervisor
    Project Course in Computer Science (EDAN70)
    Lund University — Faculty of Engineering (LTH)
  • 2026 Project Supervisor
    Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (BIOR84)
    Lund University — Department of Biology
  • 2025 Project Supervisor
    Market Research and Stakeholder Analysis - Summer Project
    Lund University - Innovation Office
  • 2025 Lecturer
    Neurobiology (BIOR58)
    Lund University — Department of Biology
  • 2025 Project Supervisor
    Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology (BIOR84)
    Lund University — Department of Biology
  • 2024 Lecturer
    Sensory Biology (BIOR20)
    Lund University — Department of Biology
  • 2024 Tutorial Teacher
    Neurobiology (BIOR58)
    Lund University — Department of Biology
  • 2022 Head Instructor
    Big Insights from Small Brains: Cognitive Neuroethology of Invertebrates
    Johns Hopkins University
  • 2018 Teaching Assistant
    Neuroscience Career Skills
    Johns Hopkins University

In the Media

A selection of public coverage and public talks of our work:

Public Talk Thumbnail
Research Talk

Future of Foraging Seminar

On the Hunt: Ingenious Foraging Strategies in Bats & Spiders.

Watch Talk
Ars Technica Thumbnail
News Feature

Ars Technica

Tracking spiders as they weave their webs reveals detailed “choreography”.

Read & Watch
Scientias Thumbnail
Interview (Dutch)

Scientias.nl

Hoe bouwt een spin een web? De complexe spinnendans ontrafeld met behulp van AI en nachtvisie.

Read & Watch
Smithsonian Thumbnail
News Feature

Smithsonian Magazine

Using night vision and AI, scientists recorded spiders' entire choreography for web building.

Read & Watch

Current and Former Team Members

Are you interested in neuroscience and animal behavior? Or would you like to develop machine learning and engineering solutions at the intersection of biology and robotics? Feel free to reach out for an informal chat! Projects are available as internships or as for-credit coursework (including as a BA/MA thesis).

Recent and Current Members

  • Clarisa Cristobal Estrada (Exchange from Paris-Saclay)
  • Benedikt Nordström Ståbi (LU, Biology Department)
  • Satish Chandra Pamulapati (LU, Faculty of Engineering)

Former Members

  • Vid Kralj (LU, Biology Department)
  • Plus many thanks all the research project course participants not listed here! (LU, Biology Department & Faculty of Engineering)