Specific dopaminergic neurons for the formation of labile aversive memory.

ABSTRACT: A paired presentation of an odor and electric shock induces aversive odor memory in Drosophila melanogaster. Electric shock reinforcement is mediated by dopaminergic neurons, and it converges with the odor signal in the mushroom body (MB). Dopamine is synthesized in approximately 280 neurons that form distinct cell clusters and is involved in a variety of brain functions. Recently, one of the dopaminergic clusters (PPL1) that includes MB-projecting neurons was shown to signal reinforcement for aversive odor memory. As each dopaminergic cluster contains multiple types of neurons with different projections and physiological characteristics, functional understanding of the circuit for aversive memory requires cellular identification. Here, we show that MB-M3, a specific type of dopaminergic n

SUBMITTER: Aso Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2929706 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature