We study changes in the properties and functions of neurons during animal development and dormancy. Another long-standing interest is the proper coordination of neural centers generating rhythmical movements. For both questions, we study the nervous systems of arthropods (insects and crustaceans), because they serve as simple models for understanding more complex (e.g., vertebrate) nervous systems. We work with economically important species such as the hornworm moth, Manduca sexta, and the cabbage white butterfly, Pieris rapae. Current student projects focus on the expression of amine transmitters, transmitter-synthesizing enzymes, and ion channels in identified neurons of these model organisms. We track changes in neuronal phenotype through larval development, metamorphosis, and the onset or breakage of dormancy. The aim is to understand more about the ways the nervous system adapts to changes in the shape and state of the body.