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PreprintCited by 116Neurobiology and Insect Physiology ResearchMemory and Neural MechanismsMotor Control and Adaptation

The Operant and the Classical in Conditioned Orientation of Drosophila melanogaster at the Flight Simulator

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Brembs, Björn, Heisenberg, Martin·2000·Learning & Memory
DOI 10.1101/lm.7.2.104PMC PMC311324
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Abstract

Ever since learning and memory have been studied experimentally, the relationship between operant and classical conditioning has been controversial. Operant conditioning is any form of conditioning that essentially depends on the animal's behavior. It relies on operant behavior. A motor output is called operant if it controls a sensory variable. The Drosophila flight simulator, in which the relevant behavior is a single motor variable (yaw torque), fully separates the operant and classical components of a complex conditioning task. In this paradigm a tethered fly learns, operantly or classically, to prefer and avoid certain flight orientations in relation to the surrounding panorama. Yaw torque is recorded and, in the operant mode, controls the panorama. Using a yoked control, we show that classical pattern learning necessitates more extensive training than operant pattern learning. We compare in detail the microstructure of yaw torque after classical and operant training but find no evidence for acquired behavioral traits after operant conditioning that might explain this difference. We therefore conclude that the operant behavior has a facilitating effect on the classical training. In addition, we show that an operantly learned stimulus is successfully transferred from the behavior of the training to a different behavior. This result unequivocally demonstrates that during operant conditioning classical associations can be formed.

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  • Honey bees and fruit flies can learn associations between novel, compound visual stimuli.

    “Honey bees and fruit flies can learn associations between novel, compound visual stimuli (Couvillon and Bitterman 1988; Brembs and Heisenberg 2000; Schubert et al. 2002)”

    From Unlimited Associative Learning and the origins of consciousness: a primer and some predictions (2020) · cites this paper as Brembs and Heisenberg 2000

    The Discussion reports that fruit flies acquire visual pattern and color preferences through associative conditioning. But the Classical Conditioning section describes pairing a visual pattern with heat, not learning an association between two novel, compound visual stimuli. This paper also does not provide evidence about honey bees. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. Eyding, D. 1993. "Lernen und Kurzzeitgeda ¨chtnis beim operanten Konditionieren auf visuelle Muster bei strukturellen und bei chemischen Lernmutanten von Drosophila melanogaster." Diploma Thesis, Julius-Maximilians-Universita ¨t Wu ¨rzburg, Germany.
  2. Pavlov, I.P. 1927. Conditioned reflexes. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
  3. Sheffield, F.D. 1965. Relation of classical conditioning and instrumental learning. In Classical conditioning (ed. W.F. Prokasy), pp. 302-322.
  4. Weidtmann, N. 1993. "Visuelle Flugsteuerung und Verhaltensplastizita ¨t bei Zentralkomplex-Mutanten von Drosophila melanogaster." Diploma Thesis. Julius-Maximilians-Universita ¨t Wu ¨rzburg, Germany.

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Authors
Brembs, B., & Heisenberg, M.
Affiliations
University of Würzburg (DE)
ORCID
Heisenberg, Martin
Venue
Learning & Memory
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Published
2000-03-01
Volume
7
Issue
2
Pages
104-115
ISSN
  • 1072-0502 (ISSN-L)
  • 1549-5485
DOI
10.1101/lm.7.2.104
PMC
PMC311324
OpenAlex
W6913022709
Cited by
116
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 4
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Learning & Memory (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Regensburg Publication Server (University of Regensburg) (acceptedVersion)
  • University of Regensburg Publication Server (University of Regensburg)
Funders
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
Keywords
operant conditioning, classical conditioning, Drosophila melanogaster, flight simulator, yaw torque, pattern learning, associative learning, behavioral transfer, learning and memory
MeSH terms
Animals, Conditioning, Classical, Conditioning, Operant, Drosophila melanogaster, Flight, Animal, Learning, Memory, Models, Neurological, Models, Psychological, Motor Activity, Software, Torque

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