A Stochastic Burst Follows the Periodic Morning Peak in Individual Drosophila Locomotion.

ABSTRACT: Coupling between cyclically varying external light and an endogenous biochemical oscillator known as the circadian clock, modulates a rhythmic pattern with two prominent peaks in the locomotion of Drosophila melanogaster. A morning peak appears around the time lights turn on and an evening peak appears just before lights turn off. The close association between the peaks and the external 12:12 hour light/dark photoperiod means that respective morning and evening peaks of individual flies are well-synchronized in time and, consequently, feature prominently in population-averaged data. Here, we report on a brief but strong stochastic burst in fly activity that, in contrast to morning and evening peaks, is detectable only in single fly recordings. This burst was observed across 3 wild-type str

SUBMITTER: Lazopulo S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4631454 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature