Appetitive Associative Olfactory Learning in Drosophila Larvae
Appetitive Associative Olfactory Learning in Drosophila Larvae
复制标题
DOI：
10.3791/4334
复制
发表时间：
2013-02-01
影响因子：
1.2
通讯作者：
Thum, Andreas S.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Apostolopoulou, Anthi A.;Widmann, Annekathrin;Thum, Andreas S.
在下文中，我们描述了果蝇幼虫的食欲联想嗅觉学习的方法细节。这种设置与遗传干扰相结合，提供了一个分析简单幼虫大脑中特定联想学习的神经元和分子基础的把手，生物体可以利用过去的经验来调整现在的行为。这种行为潜力的获得可以被定义为学习，这些潜力的物理基础是记忆痕迹（1-4）。神经科学家试图了解这些过程是如何组织在分子和神经元的变化在大脑中使用各种方法在模型生物从昆虫到脊椎动物（5，6）。对于这样的努力，它是有帮助的，使用模型系统，是简单的和实验访问。果蝇幼虫已经证明能够满足这些要求，这是基于可靠的行为测定的可用性、各种转基因技术的存在以及仅由大约10，000个神经元组成的神经系统的基本组织（虽然有一些让步：认知局限，行为选择少，果蝇幼虫可以在气味和食欲味觉强化（如糖）之间形成联系（11-14）。在B实验室建立的标准测定中。Gerber，动物接受两种气味的相互训练：第一组幼虫暴露于气味A和味觉刺激剂（糖奖励），随后暴露于气味B而不强化（9）。与此同时，第二组幼虫接受相互训练，同时经历气味A没有加强，随后暴露于气味B与加强（糖奖励）。在下文中，测试两组人对两种气味的偏好。对奖励气味的相对较高的偏好反映了联想学习-表现为性能指数（PI）。关于性能指数的关联性的结论是令人信服的，因为除了气味和味觉之间的偶然性之外，其他参数，如气味和奖励暴露，时间的推移和处理在两组之间没有差异（9）。
In the following we describe the methodological details of appetitive associative olfactory learning in Drosophila larvae. The setup, in combination with genetic interference, provides a handle to analyze the neuronal and molecular fundamentals of specifically associative learning in a simple larval brain.Organisms can use past experience to adjust present behavior. Such acquisition of behavioral potential can be defined as learning, and the physical bases of these potentials as memory traces(1-4). Neuroscientists try to understand how these processes are organized in terms of molecular and neuronal changes in the brain by using a variety of methods in model organisms ranging from insects to vertebrates(5,6). For such endeavors it is helpful to use model systems that are simple and experimentally accessible. The Drosophila larva has turned out to satisfy these demands based on the availability of robust behavioral assays, the existence of a variety of transgenic techniques and the elementary organization of the nervous system comprising only about 10,000 neurons (albeit with some concessions: cognitive limitations, few behavioral options, and richness of experience questionable)(7-10).Drosophila larvae can form associations between odors and appetitive gustatory reinforcement like sugar(11-14). In a standard assay, established in the lab of B. Gerber, animals receive a two-odor reciprocal training: A first group of larvae is exposed to an odor A together with a gustatory reinforcer (sugar reward) and is subsequently exposed to an odor B without reinforcement(9). Meanwhile a second group of larvae receives reciprocal training while experiencing odor A without reinforcement and subsequently being exposed to odor B with reinforcement (sugar reward). In the following both groups are tested for their preference between the two odors. Relatively higher preferences for the rewarded odor reflect associative learning - presented as a performance index (PI). The conclusion regarding the associative nature of the performance index is compelling, because apart from the contingency between odors and tastants, other parameters, such as odor and reward exposure, passage of time and handling do not differ between the two groups(9).