In 1918, McEwen demonstrated that wing defects, caused by mutation or damage, profoundly affect phototaxis in walking Drosophila fruit flies (McEwen, 1918). We have recently described experiments showing that flies are constantly monitoring their flying capability and adjust their light/dark […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Archive for meeting-posters
29 results.
Variability is an adaptive and ubiquitous feature of all our behaviors, which is actively regulated according to task demands. Behavioral variability explains why under identical circumstances, individuals are able to initiate different actions. The amount of behavioral variability predicts operant […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Animals exhibit innate preferences for different stimulus modalities and intensities, which likely reflect evolutionary responses to specific ecological needs. Insects such as Drosophila move towards a light source when startled. Given the robustness of this response, positive phototaxis has been […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Posted on April 17, 2015
at 18:16
Even in the absence of external stimuli, brains are capable of initiating spontaneous actions. Spontaneous turning attempts (yaw torque) initiated by Drosophila fruit flies tethered at the torque meter, are not completely governed by random noise in the brain but […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Posted on April 17, 2015
at 16:44
World-learning (the process assigning value to sensory stimuli) and self-learning (the process assigning value to a specific action or movement) are two biological components of operant learning. The fundamental value of the distinction between self- and world-learning is reflected in […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Posted on April 17, 2015
at 16:39
During operant learning, animals learn to associate external cues (world-learning) and/or their self-generated motor program (self-learning) with the reward or punishment. Previous work dissociated these two types of learning using different paradigms in the fly torque meter apparatus (“flight simulator”),. […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Posted on April 17, 2015
at 16:23
During operant (instrumental) learning, subjects may learn to associate external cues (world-learning) and/or their self-generated motor program (self-learning) with reward or punishment. In previous work we were able to dissociate these two forms of learning in different paradigms using the […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Posted on April 17, 2015
at 16:05
Apr17
Genetic dissection of octopamine action in reward-related behavior and motor control in Drosophila
The monoamine octopamine (structurally related to noradrenaline) acts as a neurohormone, a neuromodulator and a neurotransmitter in insects. Manipulations of octopamine levels lead to a plethora of behavioral effects, among them alterations in locomotion, flight or learning and memory. Drosophila […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Posted on April 17, 2015
at 16:03
In humans, mutations of the transcription factor Forkhead box protein P2 (FoxP2) cause a severe speech and language disorder. Downregulating the Zebrafinch FoxP2 orthologue in development results in incomplete and inaccurate song imitation. These forms of vocal learning exhibit two […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Posted on April 17, 2015
at 15:45
