Neural control of aggression in Drosophila
Abstract
Like most animal species, fruit flies fight to obtain and defend resources essential to survival and reproduction. Aggressive behavior in Drosophila is genetically specified and also strongly influenced by the fly's social context, past experiences and internal states, making it an excellent framework for investigating the neural mechanisms that regulate complex social behaviors. Here, I summarize our current knowledge of the neural control of aggression in Drosophila and discuss recent advances in understanding the sensory pathways that influence the decision to fight or court, the neuromodulatory control of aggression, the neural basis by which internal states can influence both fighting and courtship, and how social experience modifies aggressive behavior.
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The authors previously developed NeuroMechFly, the first morphologically realistic bio- and neuromechanical model of the adult fly, Drosophila melanogaster.
“Towards this goal, we previously developed NeuroMechFly, the first morphologically realistic bioand neuromechanical model of the adult fly, Drosophila melanogaster 22 .”
From NeuroMechFly v2: simulating embodied sensorimotor control in adult Drosophila (2024) · cites this paper as [22]
One major opportunity afforded by morphologically accurate models is the ability to replay real recorded 3D body part kinematics in simulation to infer unmeasured collisions, contacts, and forces.
“One major opportunity afforded by such models is the ability to replay real recorded 3D body part kinematics in simulation to infer unmeasured collisions, contacts, and forces 22 .”
From NeuroMechFly v2: simulating embodied sensorimotor control in adult Drosophila (2024) · cites this paper as [22]
Previously, the authors showed that replaying the real leg kinematics of a tethered walking fly could generate stable walking in NeuroMechFly on flat ground.
“Previously, we showed that replaying the real leg kinematics of a tethered walking fly could generate stable walking in NeuroMechFly on flat ground 22 .”
From NeuroMechFly v2: simulating embodied sensorimotor control in adult Drosophila (2024) · cites this paper as [22]
Using the NeuroMechFly biomechanical model, the authors could infer unmeasured forces and collisions from the in silico replay of real 3D limb kinematics measured from tethered flies walking and grooming on a spherical treadmill.
“Using this biomechanical model, we could infer unmeasured forces and collisions from the in silico replay of real 3D limb kinematics measured from tethered flies walking and grooming on a spherical treadmill.”
From NeuroMechFly v2: simulating embodied sensorimotor control in adult Drosophila (2024) · cites this paper as [22]
With NeuroMechFly, the authors showed how simple, mathematical central-pattern generators (CPGs) could be used to control fast and stable tethered locomotion.
“Furthermore, with this model we showed how simple, mathematical central-pattern generators (CPGs) could be used to control fast and stable tethered locomotion.”
From NeuroMechFly v2: simulating embodied sensorimotor control in adult Drosophila (2024) · cites this paper as [22]
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NeuroMechFly v2: simulating embodied sensorimotor control in adult Drosophila
Wang-Chen, S., Stimpfling, V. A., Lam, T. K. C., Özdil, P. G., Genoud, L., Hurtak, F., & Ramdya, P. (2024) · Nature Methods · doi:10.1038/s41592-024-02497-y · Cited by 43 · see citing works
“With enriched sensory feedback and improved biomechanics, Neuro-MechFly v2 enables the whole-body simulation of complex behaviors requiring controllers that span sensing, navigation, internal states 22 , learning 45 and motor control.”
- Authors
- Hoopfer, E. D.
- Affiliations
- California Institute of Technology (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hoopfer, Eric D
- ORCID
- Hoopfer, Eric D
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Neurobiology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-06
- Volume
- 38
- Pages
- 109-118
- ISSN
- 0959-4388 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2353246870
- Cited by
- 107
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 0.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Neurobiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (DA031389)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Keywords
- aggression, Drosophila, neural control of behavior, social behavior, sensory pathways, neuromodulation, internal state, social experience, courtship, social environment
- MeSH terms
- Aggression, Animals, Drosophila, Nervous System Physiological Phenomena, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Social Behavior
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