Kazuma Murakami

Central versus peripheral neural control of a coordinated walking pattern in Drosophila.

This study identifies central and peripheral neural pathways governing coordinated walking in Drosophila using sensory-deprivation experiments and connectome analysis.

Avoidance engages dopaminergic punishment in Drosophila

The paper shows that inducing backward movement in Drosophila engages dopaminergic punishment and supports aversive memories, explaining the avoidance paradox.

Neural circuit mechanisms underlying context-specific halting in Drosophila.

This study identifies two distinct neural mechanisms for context-specific halting in Drosophila during feeding and grooming behaviors.

A screen for sleep and starvation resistance identifies a wake-promoting role for the auxiliary channel unc79

This study identifies UNC79 as a gene that increases sleep duration and starvation resistance in flies, with distinct roles in mushroom body neurons versus circadian pacemaker neurons.