Optogenetic control of selective neural activity in multiple freely moving Drosophila adults

We present an automated laser tracking and optogenetic manipulation system (ALTOMS) for studying social memory in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster). ALTOMS comprises an intelligent central control module for high-speed fly behavior analysis and feedback laser scanning (∼40 frames per second) for...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2014-04, Vol.111 (14), p.5367-5372
Main Authors: Wu, Ming-Chin, Chu, Li-An, Hsiao, Po-Yen, Lin, Yen-Yin, Chi, Chen-Chieh, Liu, Tsung-Ho, Fu, Chien-Chung, Chiang, Ann-Shyn
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
Animal behavior
Animal cognition
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Biological Sciences
Conditioning, Classical
Courtship
Drosophila
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster - physiology
Emergency protective orders
Female
Genetics
Insects
Irradiation
Lasers
Male
Memory
Neurons
Neurons - physiology
Optogenetics
Physical Sciences
Thorax
Virgin females
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Summary:We present an automated laser tracking and optogenetic manipulation system (ALTOMS) for studying social memory in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster). ALTOMS comprises an intelligent central control module for high-speed fly behavior analysis and feedback laser scanning (∼40 frames per second) for targeting two lasers (a 473-nm blue laser and a 593.5-nm yellow laser) independently on any specified body parts of two freely moving Drosophila adults. By using ALTOMS to monitor and compute the locations, orientations, wing postures, and relative distance between two flies in real time and using high-intensity laser irradiation as an aversive stimulus, this laser tracking system can be used for an operant conditioning assay in which a courting male quickly learns and forms a long-lasting memory to stay away from a freely moving virgin female. With the equipped lasers, channelrhodopsin-2 and/or halorhodopsin expressed in selected neurons can be triggered on the basis of interactive behaviors between two flies. Given its capacity for optogenetic manipulation to transiently and independently activate/inactivate selective neurons, ALTOMS offers opportunities to systematically map brain circuits that orchestrate specific Drosophila behaviors.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.1400997111