title: A behavioral stress assay in Drosophila larvae.
abstract: INTRODUCTIONThis protocol describes a simple behavioral assay designed to test the response of Drosophila larvae to a homeostatic insult: bright light. Treating normally photophobic larvae with bright light before placing them near a target food source reveals a greater latency to reach the target when compared to controls not receiving light treatment. This effect is reversible given a recovery period after light treatment, and it may reveal a method by which to measure behavioral plasticity and stress responses in fruit fly larvae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903-4328, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Daubert
authors.forename: Barry G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Condron