Statistical modelling of navigational decisions based on intensity versus directionality in Drosophila larval phototaxis.

ABSTRACT: Organisms use environmental cues for directed navigation. Understanding the basic logic behind navigational decisions critically depends on the complexity of the nervous system. Due to the comparably simple organization of the nervous system of the fruit fly larva, it stands as a powerful model to study decision-making processes that underlie directed navigation. We have quantitatively measured phototaxis in response to well-defined sensory inputs. Subsequently, we have formulated a statistical stochastic model based on biased Markov chains to characterize the behavioural basis of negative phototaxis. Our experiments show that larvae make navigational decisions depending on two independent physical variables: light intensity and its spatial gradient. Furthermore, our statistical model quan

SUBMITTER: de Andres-Bragado L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6062584 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature