Optogenetic control of selective neural activity in multiple freely moving Drosophila adults.
We present an automated laser tracking and optogenetic manipulation system (ALTOMS) for studying social memory in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster). ALTOMS comprises an intelligent central control module for high-speed fly behavior analysis and feedback laser scanning (∼40 frames per second) for targeting two lasers (a 473-nm blue laser and a 593.5-nm yellow laser) independently on any specified body parts of two freely moving Drosophila adults. By using ALTOMS to monitor and compute the locations, orientations, wing postures, and relative distance between two flies in real time and using high-intensity laser irradiation as an aversive stimulus, this laser tracking system can be used for an operant conditioning assay in which a courting male quickly learns and forms a long-lasting memory to stay away from a freely moving virgin female. With the equipped lasers, channelrhodopsin-2 and/or halorhodopsin expressed in selected neurons can be triggered on the basis of interactive behaviors between two flies. Given its capacity for optogenetic manipulation to transiently and independently activate/inactivate selective neurons, ALTOMS offers opportunities to systematically map brain circuits that orchestrate specific Drosophila behaviors.
Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Brain Research Center, Institute of Photonics Technologies, Department of Electrical Engineering, and Institute of NanoEngineering and MicroSystems, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
Ming-Chin
MC
Wu
Li-An
LA
Chu
Po-Yen
PY
Hsiao
Yen-Yin
YY
Lin
Chen-Chieh
CC
Chi
Tsung-Ho
TH
Liu
Chien-Chung
CC
Fu
Ann-Shyn
AS
Chiang
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D003214:Conditioning, Classical; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D062308:Optogenetics
operant learning; restraining conditioning; restraining order