title: Immediate and punitive impact of mechanosensory disturbance on olfactory behaviour of larval Drosophila.
abstract: The ability to respond to and to learn about mechanosensory disturbance is widespread among animals. Using Drosophila larvae, we describe how the frequency of mechanosensory disturbance ('buzz') affects three aspects of behaviour: free locomotion, innate olfactory preference, and potency as a punishment. We report that (i) during 2-3 seconds after buzz onset the larvae slowed down and then turned, arguably to escape this situation; this was seen for buzz frequencies of 10, 100, and 1000 Hz, (ii) innate olfactory preference was reduced when tested in the presence of the buzz; this effect was strongest for the 100 Hz frequency, (iii) after odour-buzz associative training, we observed escape from the buzz-associated odour; this effect was apparent for 10 and 100, but not for 1000 Hz. We discuss the multiple behavioural effects of mechanosensation and stress that the immediate effects on locomotion and the impact as punishment differ in their frequency-dependence. Similar dissociations between immediate, reflexive behavioural effects and reinforcement potency were previously reported for sweet, salty and bitter tastants. It should be interesting to see how these features map onto the organization of sensory, ascending pathways.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biologie, Universität Leipzig, Tierphysiologie, 04103 Leipzig, Germany Abteilung Genetik von Lernen und Gedächtnis, Leibniz Institut für Neurobiologie (LIN), 39118 Magdeburg, Germany timo.saumweber@lin-magdeburg.de bertram.gerber@lin-magdeburg.de.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saumweber
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biologie, Universität Leipzig, Genetik, 04103 Leipzig, Germany Present address: Institut für Psychologie, Universität Bonn, 53111 Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Genetik von Lernen und Gedächtnis, Leibniz Institut für Neurobiologie (LIN), 39118 Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klessen
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biologie, Universität Leipzig, Genetik, 04103 Leipzig, Germany Present address: Institut für Biologie, Universität Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eichler
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany Center for Behavioral Brain Science (CBBS), 39016 Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fendt
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Genetik von Lernen und Gedächtnis, Leibniz Institut für Neurobiologie (LIN), 39118 Magdeburg, Germany Institut für Biologie, Universität Leipzig, Genetik, 04103 Leipzig, Germany Center for Behavioral Brain Science (CBBS), 39016 Magdeburg, Germany Institut für Biologie, Otto von Guericke Universität Magdeburg, Verhaltensgenetik, 39106 Magdeburg, Germany timo.saumweber@lin-magdeburg.de bertram.gerber@lin-magdeburg.de.
authors.forename: Bertram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gerber
keywords: Drosophila; Learning; Mechanosensation; Memory; Olfaction; Punishment