Motion generation by
            <i>Drosophila</i>
            mechanosensory neurons

Göpfert, MC; Robert, Daniel

doi:10.1073/pnas.0737564100

Cited by 165 publications

(138 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…The Drosophila auditory organ, Johnston's organ, is situated in the fly's antenna (Fig. 1A) (14)(15)(16)(17). We analyzed the effects of mechanical disruption of the antennal sound receiver on aggressive behavior in two different ways.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Hearing regulates Drosophila aggression

Versteven

Broeck

Geurten

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Aggression is a universal social behavior important for the acquisition of food, mates, territory, and social status. Aggression in Drosophila is context-dependent and can thus be expected to involve inputs from multiple sensory modalities. Here, we use mechanical disruption and genetic approaches in Drosophila melanogaster to identify hearing as an important sensory modality in the context of intermale aggressive behavior. We demonstrate that neuronal silencing and targeted knockdown of hearing genes in the fly's auditory organ elicit abnormal aggression. Further, we show that exposure to courtship or aggression song has opposite effects on aggression. Our data define the importance of hearing in the control of Drosophila intermale aggression and open perspectives to decipher how hearing and other sensory modalities are integrated at the neural circuit level.A ggression is one of the most important social behaviors in nature, ensuring reproduction and survival when competing for food, territory, or mating partners (1). Aggression is a complex behavior shaped by many factors, including a complex genetic architecture, the integration of various neurotransmitter and hormone systems, and a range of environmental factors (2).Correct integration and processing of sensory information are crucial to evoke an appropriate behavioral response. Previous studies have implicated different sensory modalities in the regulation of aggressive behavior in Drosophila melanogaster, including the olfactory, gustatory, and visual systems (3-6).Another important sensory modality in Drosophila is hearing. Stereotypic sound patterns generated by wing vibration and their behavioral significance have been extensively studied in the context of Drosophila courtship (7-12). On the contrary, nothing is known about the impact of hearing on aggressive behavior. Furthermore, although agonistic sound pulses are known to be generated during aggressive encounters, it is unknown whether they serve as acoustic communication signals to modulate behavior (13).The Drosophila auditory organ, Johnston's organ (JO), is situated in the fly's antenna (Fig. 1A) (14-17). Antennal displacement leads to activation of ∼500 chordotonal stretch-receptor neurons in the JO, which contains AB neurons responsive to sound-evoked vibrations and CE neurons sensitive to sustained antennal deflections caused by gravity and wind (Fig. 1A) (18). The sensory neuron subclasses each innervates a particular region of the antennal mechanosensory and motor center (AMMC), the primary processing center for auditory input in the fly brain (18).In this study, we use mechanical disruption and genetic approaches in D. melanogaster to identify hearing as an important sensory modality in the context of intermale aggressive behavior. We show that neuronal silencing and targeted knockdown of hearing genes in the fly's auditory organ induce abnormal aggression. Further, we show that exposure to courtship or aggression song has opposite effects on aggression. Our data provide evidence on the r...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1A) (14)(15)(16)(17). Antennal displacement leads to activation of ∼500 chordotonal stretch-receptor neurons in the JO, which contains AB neurons responsive to sound-evoked vibrations and CE neurons sensitive to sustained antennal deflections caused by gravity and wind (Fig.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Hearing regulates Drosophila aggression

Versteven

Broeck

Geurten

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…In O. nigricornis SOs show the same characteristics as SOs in other well characterised insect auditory systems such as Drosophila and mosquitoes (Göpfert and Robert 2001;Göpfert and Robert 2003); they are around the best frequency of the receiver, they increase in amplitude following ethanol injection and they are never seen post mortem. Although their amplitude is in the picometer range, they are observed above the noise floor of the measurement system.…”

Section: Active Auditory Systemmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…To achieve this many animals have evolved a nonlinear auditory response, whereby the receiver shows increased sensitivity to quiet sounds and sensory cells selectively and actively tune into frequencies of interest. Auditory nonlinearities are known across all vertebrate groups (Manley 2000;Manley et al 2008) and in insects have been found in mosquitoes (Göpfert and Robert 2001), Drosophila (Göpfert and Robert 2003) and the tree cricket, O. henryi (Mhatre and Robert 2013). The female O. henryi auditory system becomes selectively tuned into male call frequencies at low amplitudes, but at high stimulus amplitudes this tuning is lost.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Active auditory mechanics in female black-horned tree crickets (Oecanthus nigricornis)

Morley

Mason

2015

J Comp Physiol A

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“…8 Sounds are perceived by sensory neurons of Johnston's organ in the second segment of the fly antennae 9,10 and the resonance frequency has been demonstrated to vary in a non-linear manner with sound intensity, thereby improving sensitivity for low song intensities. [11][12][13][14] Courtship of Drosophila consists of a series of different behavioral steps, 4,15,16 initiated by a male's orientation movement towards a female. Tapping of the female abdomen or thorax with one of the forelegs of a male is usually followed by extension of the wing located nearest to the female and the production of a courtship song through rapid vibration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%