Induction of associative olfactory memory by targeted activation of single olfactory neurons in Drosophila larvae.
It has been postulated that associative memory is formed by at least two sets of external stimuli, CS and US, that are transmitted to the memory centers by distinctive conversing pathways. However, whether associative memory can be induced by the activation of only the olfactory CS and a biogenic amine-mediated US pathways remains to be elucidated. In this study, we substituted the reward signals with dTrpA1-mediated thermogenetic activation of octopaminergic neurons and the odor signals by ChR2-mediated optical activation of a specific class of olfactory neurons. We show that targeted activation of the olfactory receptor and the octopaminergic neurons is indeed sufficient for the formation of associative olfactory memory in the larval brain. We also show that targeted stimulation of only a single type of olfactory receptor neurons is sufficient to induce olfactory memory that is indistinguishable from natural memory induced by the activation of multiple olfactory receptor neurons.
1] Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan [2] Ph.D. Program in Human Biology, School of Integrative and Global Majors, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan.
Takato
T
Honda
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan.
Chi-Yu
CY
Lee
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan.
Maki
M
Yoshida-Kasikawa
1] Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan [2].
Ken
K
Honjo
Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Japan.
Katsuo
K
Furukubo-Tokunaga
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004330:Drosophila / Q000502:physiology*; D018390:Gene Targeting; D007814:Larva; D008027:Light; D008568:Memory; D009812:Odorants; D055696:Olfactory Perception; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*