By targeted genetic silencing of small subsets of cells in the Drosophila brain we show that neurons in the ellipsoid body, but not in the mushroom bodies, are necessary for visual place learning. Here we describe a visual place-learning platform and demonstrate that Drosophila are capable of forming and retaining visual place memories to guide selective navigation. However, the extent to which they use vision to recall specific locations remains unclear.
Flies can identify and remember visual features such as size, color, and contour orientation 5, 6. Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model organism for dissecting the neural circuitry underlying complex behaviors, from sensory perception to learning and memory. While the impressive navigation abilities of ants, bees, wasps, and other insects clearly demonstrate that insects are capable of visual place learning 1– 4, little is known about the underlying neural circuits that mediate these behaviors. The ability of insects to learn and navigate to specific locations in the environment has fascinated naturalists for decades.
