title: Olfactory jump reflex habituation in Drosophila and effects of classical conditioning mutations.
abstract: Habituation is a nonassociative learning mechanism, in which an initial response toward repeated stimuli gradually wanes. This is amongst the simplest and most widespread forms of behavioral plasticity. So far, neither the underlying molecular mechanisms nor the precise neural networks of habituation are well understood. We have developed a novel paradigm to quantify habituation of the olfactory jump reflex in Drosophila. We present data demonstrating several behavioral properties of this phenomenon, generally observed in other species. We also show that the dunce and rutabaga memory mutants behave abnormally in this assay, suggesting that this assay might be used in behavioral screens for new mutants with defects in this simpler form of behavioral plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Asztalos
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tully
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001547:Benzaldehydes; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000235:genetics*; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009154:Mutation; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics; D009812:Odorants; D012903:Smell
chemical_list: D001547:Benzaldehydes; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C523245:dnc protein, Drosophila; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; C479926:Rut protein, Drosophila; C032175:benzaldehyde