PgmNr D1276: Effect of sound as context on appetitive and aversive conditioning in Drosophila.

Authors:
F. L. Hannan 1 ; E. Dautaj 1 ; S. J. Gjeci 1 ; N. Narayanan 2 ; P. Meade 1 ; E. B. McGough 1


Institutes
1) New York Med Col, Valhalla, NY; 2) Touro College, Manhattan, NY.


Keyword: learning/memory

Abstract:

Associative learning and memory tasks critically depend on the simultaneous activation of multiple sensory pathways. Such tasks are very sensitive to context, including location, color, time of day and temperature. In humans it is well known that sound can trigger recall of past events, and it has been shown that sound can enhance or interfere with word recall tasks and working memory (Balch et al., 1992; Sorqvist, 2010), and that ultrasound can affect cortical activity (Legon et al., 2014). The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has been employed extensively for studies of learning and memory, using classical and operant conditioning tasks (Brembs 2011; Davis 2011). Sound is also an important environmental stimulus in flies. Male flies “serenade” females during courtship by flapping one wing (Shorey, 1962). Males also "yell" at each other with dual wing flicks during fights (Jonsson et al., 2011). We have observed that both pleasant and agonistic sounds can interfere with a reward based olfactory association task that pairs sucrose with odors inwild type flies as well as learning and memory mutants including Nf1, amnesiac and dunce. The same sounds, however, do not affect an aversive olfactory association task that pairs electric shock with odors, nor do they affect deaf flies (mer mutants). It is well known that different circuitry and neurotransmitters are involved in aversive versus appetitive conditioning, however there are also operational differences in the learning protocols that may interfere with exposure to sound. Future studies include developing an aversive conditioning protocol using bitter tastants, to better simulate the appetitive task, and to assay the effect of sounds on appetitive long term memory. Ultimately we would like to Identify the neural circuits and biochemical pathways involved in the integration of sound context into learning and memory, using the powerful genetic tools available in Drosophila.



Flybase Genetic Index:
1. FlyBase gene symbol: Nf1; FBgn: FBgn0015269
2. FlyBase gene symbol: mer; FBgn: FBgn0086384
3. FlyBase gene symbol: amn; FBgn: FBgn0086782
4. FlyBase gene symbol: dnc; FBgn: FBgn0000479