A cost of long-term memory in Drosophila.
Two distinct forms of consolidated associative memory are known in Drosophila: long-term memory and so-called anesthesia-resistant memory. Long-term memory is more stable, but unlike anesthesia-resistant memory, its formation requires protein synthesis. We show that flies induced to form long-term memory become more susceptible to extreme stress (such as desiccation). In contrast, induction of anesthesia-resistant memory had no detectable effect on desiccation resistance. This finding may help to explain why evolution has maintained anesthesia-resistant memory as another form of consolidated memory, distinct from long-term memory.
Mery
Frederic
F
Section of Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland. frederic.mery@unifr.ch
Kawecki
Tadeusz J
TJ
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009812:Odorants; D013217:Starvation; D014868:Water Deprivation
D029721:Drosophila Proteins