title: FlyMAD: rapid thermogenetic control of neuronal activity in freely walking Drosophila.
abstract: Rapidly and selectively modulating the activity of defined neurons in unrestrained animals is a powerful approach in investigating the circuit mechanisms that shape behavior. In Drosophila melanogaster, temperature-sensitive silencers and activators are widely used to control the activities of genetically defined neuronal cell types. A limitation of these thermogenetic approaches, however, has been their poor temporal resolution. Here we introduce FlyMAD (the fly mind-altering device), which allows thermogenetic silencing or activation within seconds or even fractions of a second. Using computer vision, FlyMAD targets an infrared laser to freely walking flies. As a proof of principle, we demonstrated the rapid silencing and activation of neurons involved in locomotion, vision and courtship. The spatial resolution of the focused beam enabled preferential targeting of neurons in the brain or ventral nerve cord. Moreover, the high temporal resolution of FlyMAD allowed us to discover distinct timing relationships for two neuronal cell types previously linked to courtship song.
authors.affiliation: 1] Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria. [2] Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA. [3].
authors.forename: Daniel E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Bath
authors.affiliation: 1] Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria. [2] Automation and Control Institute, Vienna University of Technology, Vienna, Austria. [3].
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stowers
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hörmann
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poehlmann
authors.affiliation: 1] Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria. [2] Janelia Farm Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Barry J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.identifier: 0000000183810858
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Straw
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D003380:Courtship; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology; D007259:Infrared Rays; D007834:Lasers; D008124:Locomotion; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D062308:Optogenetics / Q000295:instrumentation*