Topic: octopaminergic inputs

Sensorimotor circuits have traditionally been studied using defined stimuli that map onto reproducible behavioural responses. However, the many features of a complex natural environment would inevitably drive multiple dedicated circuits, eliciting a combination of competing motor commands. To cope, sensorimotor transformations should be selectively modulated depending on the animal's goals and internal state. Here, we have developed a novel behavioural paradigm to study how the fruit fly processes competing visual stimuli to generate coherent behaviour. We exploit the fruit fly's optomotor res