Learning and Memory in Drosophila: Behavior, Genetics, and Neural Systems

Kahsai, Lily; Zars, Troy

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-387003-2.00006-9

Cited by 148 publications

(111 citation statements)

References 161 publications

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“…A wide array of mutant phenotypes for learning and memory in Drosophila (Kahsai & Zars, 2011) offer valuable insights into genetic and molecular substrates of acquired behavioral plasticity. Research in mollusks (e.g., Aplysia, Hermisenda) has helped connect our understanding of learned behaviors with their neuronal physiology (Brembs, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Operant avoidance learning in crayfish, Orconectes rusticus: Computational ethology and the development of an automated learning paradigm

Bhimani

Huber

2015

Learn Behav

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Research in crustaceans offers a valuable perspective for studying the neural implementation of conserved behavioral phenomena, including motivation, escape, aggression, and drug-sensitive reward. The present work adds to this literature by demonstrating that crayfish successfully learn to respond to spatially contingent cues. An integrated video-tracking system automatically delivered a mild electric shock when a test animal entered or remained on a substrate paired with punishment. Following a few instances of shock delivery, crayfish quickly learned to avoid these areas. Comparable changes in substrate preference were not exhibited by yoked controls, but locomotion differed significantly from both pre-conditioning levels and from those of their masters receiving shock in a contingent fashion. The results of this work provide valuable insights into the principles governing avoidance learning in an invertebrate system and provide a behavioral template for exploring the neural changes during associative learning. Serving as a case study, this project introduces a new computer framework for the automated control of learning paradigms. Based on routines contained within the JavaGrinders library (free download at iEthology.com), it integrates real-time video tracking with robotic interfaces, and provi des a suitable fr amewor k f or implementing automated learning paradigms.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Operant avoidance learning in crayfish, Orconectes rusticus: Computational ethology and the development of an automated learning paradigm

Bhimani

Huber

2015

Learn Behav

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“…109,110 In addition, Drosophila HD models recapitulate many features of HD in patients, including motor deficit and learning and memory deterioration. 111,112 All these features make Drosophila a suitable model for drug testing.…”

Section: Animal Models Of Huntington's Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

Animal models of neurodegenerative diseases

Ribeiro

Camargos

Souza

et al. 2013

Rev. Bras. Psiquiatr.

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“…Drosophila is an attractive model for studies focused on molecular dissection of components of memory formation due to the availability of reproducible memory assays and genetic tools that enable restricting gene expression manipulation to specific subregions of the brain (Siwicki and Ladewski 2003;Fiala 2007;Kahsai and Zars 2011). The Drosophila mushroom body (MB) is known to regulate behavioral and physiological functions that range from olfactory learning and courtship conditioning to decision making under uncertain conditions (Heisenberg 2003;Margulies et al 2005;Akalai et al 2006;Farris 2013;Guven-Ozkan and Davis 2014).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Epigenetic Control of Learning and Memory inDrosophilaby Tip60 HAT Action

Xu¹,

Wilf²,

Menon³

et al. 2014

Genetics

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Disruption of epigenetic gene control mechanisms in the brain causes significant cognitive impairment that is a debilitating hallmark of most neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Histone acetylation is one of the best characterized of these epigenetic mechanisms that is critical for regulating learning-and memory-associated gene expression profiles, yet the specific histone acetyltransferases (HATs) that mediate these effects have yet to be fully characterized. Here, we investigate an epigenetic role for the HAT Tip60 in learning and memory formation using the Drosophila CNS mushroom body (MB) as a well-characterized cognition model. We show that Tip60 is endogenously expressed in the Kenyon cells, the intrinsic neurons of the MB, and in the MB axonal lobes. Targeted loss of Tip60 HAT activity in the MB causes thinner and shorter axonal lobes while increasing Tip60 HAT levels cause no morphological defects. Functional consequences of both loss and gain of Tip60 HAT levels in the MB are evidenced by defects in immediate-recall memory. Our ChIP-Seq analysis reveals that Tip60 target genes are enriched for functions in cognitive processes, and, accordingly, key genes representing these pathways are misregulated in the Tip60 HAT mutant fly brain. Remarkably, we find that both learning and immediate-recall memory deficits that occur under AD-associated, amyloid precursor protein (APP)-induced neurodegenerative conditions can be effectively rescued by increasing Tip60 HAT levels specifically in the MB. Together, our findings uncover an epigenetic transcriptional regulatory role for Tip60 in cognitive function and highlight the potential of HAT activators as a therapeutic option for neurodegenerative disorders.

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Learning and Memory in Drosophila: Behavior, Genetics, and Neural Systems

Cited by 148 publications

References 161 publications

Operant avoidance learning in crayfish, Orconectes rusticus: Computational ethology and the development of an automated learning paradigm

Operant avoidance learning in crayfish, Orconectes rusticus: Computational ethology and the development of an automated learning paradigm

Animal models of neurodegenerative diseases

Epigenetic Control of Learning and Memory inDrosophilaby Tip60 HAT Action

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