biostudies-literatureHindmarsh Sten TNINDS NIH HHSNIH HHS549-553https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8973426biostudies-literatureUnknown595(7868)Long-lasting internal arousal states motivate and pattern ongoing behaviour, enabling the temporary emergence of innate behavioural programs that serve the needs of an animal, such as fighting, feeding, and mating. However, how internal states shape sensory processing or behaviour remains unclear. In Drosophila, male flies perform a lengthy and elaborate courtship ritual that is triggered by the activation of sexually dimorphic P1 neurons^1-5, during which they faithfully follow and sing to a female^6,7. Here, by recording from males as they court a virtual 'female', we gain insight into how the salience of visual cues is transformed by a male's internal arousal state to give rise to persistent courtship pursuit. The gain of LC10a visual projection neurons is selectivelNatureSexual arousal gates visual processing during Drosophila courtship.PMC8973426R35 NS111611P40 OD018537Hindmarsh Sten TRuta VOtopalik ALi RfalseSexual arousal gates visual processing during Drosophila courtship.Long-lasting internal arousal states motivate and pattern ongoing behaviour, enabling the temporary emergence of innate behavioural programs that serve the needs of an animal, such as fighting, feeding, and mating. However, how internal states shape sensory processing or behaviour remains unclear. In Drosophila, male flies perform a lengthy and elaborate courtship ritual that is triggered by the activation of sexually dimorphic P1 neurons^1-5, during which they faithfully follow and sing to a female^6,7. Here, by recording from males as they court a virtual 'female', we gain insight into how the salience of visual cues is transformed by a male's internal arousal state to give rise to persistent courtship pursuit. The gain of LC10a visual projection neurons is selectivel2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Jul2026-05-03T22:41:02.22Z2026-04-07T19:44:49.606ZS-EPMC89734263423434810.1038/s41586-021-03714-w