Drosophila melanogaster grooming possesses syntax with distinct rules at different temporal scales.

ABSTRACT: Mathematical modeling of behavioral sequences yields insight into the rules and mechanisms underlying sequence generation. Grooming in Drosophila melanogaster is characterized by repeated execution of distinct, stereotyped actions in variable order. Experiments demonstrate that, following stimulation by an irritant, grooming progresses gradually from an early phase dominated by anterior cleaning to a later phase with increased walking and posterior cleaning. We also observe that, at an intermediate temporal scale, there is a strong relationship between the amount of time spent performing body-directed grooming actions and leg-directed actions. We then develop a series of data-driven Markov models that isolate and identify the behavioral features governing transitions between individual gro

SUBMITTER: Mueller JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6594582 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature