title: Second-order conditioning in Drosophila.
abstract: Associative conditioning in Drosophila melanogaster has been well documented for several decades. However, most studies report only simple associations of conditioned stimuli (CS, e.g., odor) with unconditioned stimuli (US, e.g., electric shock) to measure learning or establish memory. Here we describe a straightforward second-order conditioning (SOC) protocol that further demonstrates the flexibility of fly behavior. In SOC, a previously conditioned stimulus (CS1) is used as reinforcement for a second conditioned stimulus (CS2) in associative learning. This higher-order context presents an opportunity for reassessing the roles of known learning and memory genes and neuronal networks in a new behavioral paradigm.
authors: School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada 89154, USA.
authors: Christopher J
authors: CJ
authors: Tabone
authors: J Steven
authors: JS
authors: de Belle
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology*; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology; D004330:Drosophila / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D009812:Odorants; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*