Newcastle University

Research Interests

Insect vision and neuroethology
Synaptic structure and function

Current Work

1. How do nerve cells communicate with each other? I am investigating this by recording signals from pairs of interconnected nerve cells attached to the simple eyes, or ocelli, of the locust. These cells are part of an autopilot system that regulates flight attitude. With Prof. Rob de Ruyter van Steveninck (Indiana), I am examining the transformations that small electrical signals undergo during processing in the ocellar system.
2. How do nerve cells control behaviour? With Claire Rind and Roger Santer, I am recording responses by the 'DCMD' nerve cell of locusts to objects approaching the locust on a collision course. We are discovering how the DCMD cell triggers approporiate evasive responses.

Funding

2003-6, BBSRC (PI, with Dr Claire Rind; post-doctoral RA, Dr Roger Santer)

Undergraduate Teaching

Degree Programme Director for Zoology

Module Leader:

Mechanisms of Behaviour

Comparative Animal Physiology

Biology Research Communication

• Leitinger G, Masich S, Neumüller J, Pabst MA, Pavelka M, Rind FC, Shupliakov O, Simmons PJ, Kolb D. Structural organization of the presynaptic density at identified synapses in the locust central nervous system. Journal of Comparative Neurology 2012, 520(2), 384-400.
• Simmons PJ. The effects of temperature on signalling in ocellar neurons of the Desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria. Journal of Comparative Physiology A 2011, 197(11), 1083-1096.
• Simmons PJ. The effects of temperature on signalling in ocellar neurons of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria. Journal of Comparative Physiology A 2011, 197(11), 1083-1096.
• Simmons PJ, Rind FC, Santer RD. Escapes with and without preparation: The neuroethology of visual startle in locusts. Journal of Insect Physiology 2010, 56(8), 876–883.
• Simmons P, Young D. Nerve Cells and Animal Behaviour. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
• Simmons PJ, de Ruyter van Steveninck RR. Sparse but specific temporal coding by spikes in an insect sensory-motor ocellar pathway. Journal of Experimental Biology 2010, 213(15), 2629-2639.
• Santer RD, Yamawaki Y, Rind FC, Simmons PJ. Preparing for escape: An examination of the role of the DCMD neuron in locust escape jumps. Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology 2008, 194(1), 69-77.
• Santer RD, Rind FC, Stafford R, Simmons PJ. Role of an identified looming-sensitive neuron in triggering a flying locust's escape. Journal of Neurophysiology 2006, 95(6), 3391-3400.
• Simmons PJ, De Ruyter Van Steveninck R. Reliability of signal transfer at a tonically transmitting, graded potential synapse of the locust ocellar pathway. Journal of Neuroscience 2005,25 33 7529-7537.
• Leitinger G, Pabst MA, Rind FC, Simmons PJ. Differential expression of synapsin in visual neurons of the locust Schistocerca gregaria. Journal of Comparative Neurology 2004,480 1 89-100.
• Simmons PJ, van Steveninck RD. Intrinsic variability in transmission at excitatory synapses between ocellar L-neurons in the locust, Schistocerca gregaria. In: Journal of Physiology: Conference of the Physiological Society. 2002, Liverpool: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
• Simmons PJ. Presynaptic depolarization rate controls transmission at an invertebrate synapse. Neuron 2002, 35(4), 749-758.
• Simmons PJ. Signal processing in a simple visual system: The locust ocellar system and its synapses. Microscopy Research and Technique 2002, 56(4), 270-280.
• Leitinger G, Simmons PJ. The organization of synaptic vesicles at tonically transmitting connections of locust visual interneurons. Journal of Neurobiology 2002, 50(2), 93-105.
• Simmons PJ. Intrinsic noise at synapses between a wing hinge stretch receptor and flight motor neurons in the locust. Journal of Experimental Biology 2001, 204(1), 127-138.
• Leitinger G, Simmons PJ. Cytochemical evidence that acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter of neurons that make excitatory and inhibitory outputs in the locust ocellar visual system. Journal of Comparative Neurology 2000, 416(3), 345-355.
• Pérez M, Simmons PJ. Localización de motoneuronas de dos músculos de vuelo en el ganglio mesothorácico de cucarachas hembras. Revista Biologia 2000, 14, 182-184.
• Leitinger G, Simmons PJ. Three-dimensional features of synapses that tonically release neurotransmitter. In: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE. 2000.
• Leitinger G, Simmons PJ. Acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter of locust visual neurones. J. Physiol 520 520 39P 1999.
• F. C. Rind and P. J. Simmons. Seeing what is coming: building collision-sensitive neurones. Trends in Neurosciences 1999, 22, 215-220.
• F. C. Rind and P. J. Simmons. The many ways of building collision-sensitive neurons - Reply. Trends in Neurosciences 1999, 22, 438-438.
• P. J. Simmons. The performance of synapses that convey discrete graded potentials in an insect visual pathway. Journal of Neuroscience 1999, 19, 10584-10594.
• Simmons, Peter. Young, David. Cambridge University Press, 1999.
• F. C. Rind and P. J. Simmons. Local circuit for the computation of object approach by an identified visual neuron in the locust. Journal of Comparative Neurology 1998, 395, 405-415.
• G. Leitinger and P. J. Simmons. Synaptic sites on lateral ocellar L-neurones of the locust Schistocerca gregaria stain for acetylcholinesterase. European Journal of Neuroscience 1998, 10, 18001.
• P. J. Simmons and F. C. Rind. Responses to object approach by a wide field visual neurone, the LGMD2 of the locust: Characterization and image cues. Journal of Comparative Physiology a-Sensory Neural and Behavioral Physiology 1997, 180, 203-214.
• F. C. Rind and P. J. Simmons. Signalling of object approach by the DCMD neuron of the locust. Journal of Neurophysiology 1997, 77, 1029-1033.
• Simmons P.J. The transfer of signals from photoreceptor cells to large, second-order neurones in the ocellar visual system of the locust, Locusta migratoria. J. Exp. Biology 1995, 198, 537-549.