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Visual place learning in Drosophila melanogaster

Author

Listed:
  • Tyler A. Ofstad

    (Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, Virginia 20147, USA
    Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California at San Diego)

  • Charles S. Zuker

    (Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, Virginia 20147, USA
    Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California at San Diego
    Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California at San Diego
    Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University)

  • Michael B. Reiser

    (Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, Virginia 20147, USA)

Abstract

A fruitfly knows its place Insects such as ants or bees are renowned for their navigational prowess, which in part derives from their ability to learn and associate visual cues to locations in space. Now Charles Zuker and colleagues demonstrate that a powerful model organism — Drosophila melanogaster — is also capable of using vision to form spatial memories. By genetically silencing specific neurons, they then show that such spatial learning relies on a brain centre (the ellipsoid body) which is distinct from that used for non-spatial learning (the mushroom body). This work could lead to Drosophila becoming a model of choice for the study of spatial memory.

Suggested Citation

  • Tyler A. Ofstad & Charles S. Zuker & Michael B. Reiser, 2011. "Visual place learning in Drosophila melanogaster," Nature, Nature, vol. 474(7350), pages 204-207, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:474:y:2011:i:7350:d:10.1038_nature10131
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10131
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    Cited by:

    1. Ishani Ganguly & Emily L. Heckman & Ashok Litwin-Kumar & E. Josephine Clowney & Rudy Behnia, 2024. "Diversity of visual inputs to Kenyon cells of the Drosophila mushroom body," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Xi En Cheng & Zhi-Ming Qian & Shuo Hong Wang & Nan Jiang & Aike Guo & Yan Qiu Chen, 2015. "A Novel Method for Tracking Individuals of Fruit Fly Swarms Flying in a Laboratory Flight Arena," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Antoine Couto & Fletcher J. Young & Daniele Atzeni & Simon Marty & Lina Melo‐Flórez & Laura Hebberecht & Monica Monllor & Chris Neal & Francesco Cicconardi & W. Owen McMillan & Stephen H. Montgomery, 2023. "Rapid expansion and visual specialisation of learning and memory centres in the brains of Heliconiini butterflies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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