Conflict or complement: Parallel memories control behaviour in Drosophila
Schedule
Friday, February 26, 2021
15:00 UTC
Scott Waddell
Prof
University of Oxford
Host: The Neurotheory Forum
Recording
Open recording
Event Information
Recording
Available
Host
The Neurotheory Forum
Duration
70 minutes
Abstract
Drosophila can learn to associate odours with reward or punishment and the resulting memories direct odour-specific approach or avoidance behaviours. Recent progress has revealed a straightforward model for learning in which reinforcing dopaminergic neurons assign valence to odour representations in the neural ensemble of the mushroom bodies. Dopamine directed synaptic depression alters the route of odour-driven activity through the mushroom body output network. This circuit configuration and influence of internal state guide the expression of appropriate behaviour. Importantly, learned behaviour is flexible and can be updated as the fly accumulates additional experience. Our latest studies demonstrate that well-informed behaviour is guided by combining parallel conflicting and complementary memories of opposite valence.
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