Thermoresponsive motor behavior is mediated by ring neuron circuits in the central complex of Drosophila.

ABSTRACT: Insects are ectothermal animals that are constrained in their survival and reproduction by external temperature fluctuations which require either active avoidance of or movement towards a given heat source. In Drosophila, different thermoreceptors and neurons have been identified that mediate temperature sensation to maintain the animal's thermal preference. However, less is known how thermosensory information is integrated to gate thermoresponsive motor behavior. Here we use transsynaptic tracing together with calcium imaging, electrophysiology and thermogenetic manipulations in freely moving Drosophila exposed to elevated temperature and identify different functions of ellipsoid body ring neurons, R1-R4, in thermoresponsive motor behavior. Our results show that warming of the external su

SUBMITTER: Buhl E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7794218 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature