Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research

Inhibitory circuits control leg movements during Drosophila grooming

The paper identifies inhibitory circuits in Drosophila that generate rhythmic leg movements during grooming through anatomical and behavioral analysis.

Cognitive robustness in a new insect model of extended longevity

This study investigates cognitive healthspan in Heliconius butterflies, finding cognitive robustness in late life despite extended longevity.

History-dependent ephaptic interactions in paired olfactory receptor neurons

This study shows that ephaptic interactions between olfactory receptor neurons in Drosophila are adaptation-dependent and not useful for fast odor processing, instead supporting slower peripheral processing tasks.

Gravid Anopheles stephensi Detects Indole for Oviposition Despite Ablation of Antennae and Maxillary Palps

This study investigates how gravid Anopheles stephensi detect indole for oviposition, showing that antennae and maxillary palps modulate, but do not solely mediate, indole detection.

Nicotine-driven hyperactivation of larval locomotion

This study examines nicotine-induced behavioral and neural changes in Drosophila larvae, showing dopamine-mediated hyperactivity and experience-dependent plasticity.

Mating and ecdysone signaling modify growth, metabolism, and digestive efficiency in the female Drosophila gut

This study shows mating in Drosophila females alters gut metabolism, digestive efficiency, and gene expression, with ecdysone signaling playing a key role in these changes.

Molecular evolution of CO2-sensing ab1C neurons underlies divergent sensory responses in the Drosophila suzukii species group

The paper investigates how genetic changes in CO2-sensing neurons drive divergent oviposition preferences in Drosophila species.

Hypoxia couples growth and developmental timing by decoupling steroid synthesis and secretion

This paper shows hypoxia affects growth and development in Drosophila by both increasing ecdysone secretion and decreasing its synthesis, revealing a dual regulatory mechanism.

Predatory aggression evolved through adaptations to noradrenergic circuits

The paper identifies evolutionary adaptations in noradrenergic circuits that enable predatory aggression in Pristionchus pacificus using machine learning.

Butterfly brains change in morphology and in gene splicing patterns after brief pheromone exposure

This study shows that female butterfly brains change in volume and gene splicing patterns after brief pheromone exposure, correlating with altered sexual preferences.

Chemically mediated neural and behavioral responses in early benthic juvenile Caribbean spiny lobsters, Panulirus argus

This study investigates chemosensory responses in early benthic juvenile Caribbean spiny lobsters, finding similar olfactory and behavioral patterns to adults.

Tonically active interneurons gate motor output in Drosophila larvae

The paper identifies A02l neurons in Drosophila larvae that use tonic inhibition to regulate crawling behavior by maintaining muscle relaxation and controlling motor output.

Conservation of sensory pathways implies a localised change in the mushroom bodies is associated with cognitive evolution in Heliconius butterflies

The paper investigates how visual behaviour in Heliconius butterflies evolved through changes in mushroom body structure without increased investment in visual pathways.

The functional morphology of hawkmoth lamina monopolar cells reveals mechanisms of spatial processing in insect motion vision

This study characterizes hawkmoth lamina monopolar cells to understand their role in spatial and contrast processing in motion vision.

Inferring the genetic basis of sleep states in Drosophila melanogaster using hidden Markov models

The paper uses hidden Markov models to identify sleep states in Drosophila and maps state-specific genes to the genome.

Glial vesicular transmitter release is not critical for courtship conditioning memory in Drosophila melanogaster

This study investigates the role of gliotransmission in Drosophila courtship memory and finds that blocking glial vesicular transmitter release does not affect memory formation, maintenance, or decline.

Genetic sex of enteric neurons enables ovarian relaxin togate maternal gut plasticity

The paper identifies a reproductive checkpoint in Drosophila that links ovarian relaxin to maternal gut plasticity via genetic sex and steroid signaling.

Structural basis of CO2 valence coding in Drosophila

The paper identifies an extraglomerular CO2 pathway in Drosophila that diverges from the canonical glomerular channel and contributes to context-dependent valence coding for CO2 avoidance behavior.

Social context modulates cannibalistic attraction in Drosophila larvae

Drosophila melanogaster larvae balance attraction to dead conspecifics with social avoidance based on carcass condition, prior experience, and social context.

Two classes of amine/glutamate multi-transmitter neurons innervate Drosophila internal male reproductive organs

The paper identifies two classes of multi-transmitter motor neurons in Drosophila that innervate different parts of the male reproductive tract and show distinct roles in fertility.

Phase-specific premotor inhibition modulates leech rhythmic motor output

This study investigates how premotor inhibition in leeches modulates rhythmic motor output during crawling by analyzing the phase-specific effects of nonspiking neurons on motoneuron activity.

Dopaminergic Modulation of Mushroom Body Output Neurons Mediates Nociception-Induced Escape in Drosophila

This study identifies dopaminergic modulation of mushroom body output neurons as critical for nociception-induced escape behavior in Drosophila.

Functional evolution of olfactory indolergic receptors in Diptera

The paper identifies and functionally characterizes indolORs across eight dipteran species, revealing conserved and diversified mechanisms for indole and skatole detection.

Kinesin-1 trans-synaptically regulates synaptic localization of SARM1 for asymmetric neuron diversification

The paper shows that UNC-116/kinesin-1 and UNC-104/kinesin-3 work together to transport factors that regulate TIR-1/SARM1 signaling, promoting asymmetric neuron subtype differentiation in C. elegans.

A dedicated brain circuit controls forward walking in Drosophila

This study identifies a dedicated brain circuit in Drosophila that controls forward walking by initiating movement and modulating speed, independent of turning behaviors.

Mechanical control of the insect extracellular matrix nanostructure

The paper investigates how ZPD proteins in Drosophila regulate nanopore formation in cuticular structures through mechanical forces.

Membrane potential dynamics of peripheral cold-sensitive neurons in Drosophila larvae

The paper reports the first intracellular recordings from Drosophila Class III cold-sensitive neurons, revealing membrane potential dynamics and electrophysiological responses to cold stimulation.

Sex-specific behavioral feedback modulates sensorimotor processing and drives flexible social behavior

The paper shows that sex-specific behavioral feedback alters song and movement dynamics in Drosophila courtship, revealing how fixed sensorimotor rules generate flexible social behavior through context-dependent partner responses.

Steroid hormone-dependent glial-neuronal interaction promotes brain development during Drosophila metamorphosis

This study shows that ecdysone signaling in glial cells is critical for CNS transformation during Drosophila metamorphosis, highlighting a hormone-dependent glial-neuronal interaction.

Two cytochrome P450 epoxidases mediate juvenile hormone biosynthesis in Drosophila melanogaster

The paper identifies two cytochrome P450 epoxidases, Cyp6g2 and Cyp6a13, as essential for juvenile hormone biosynthesis in Drosophila melanogaster, showing their cooperative function and the rescue of mutant phenotypes by juvenile hormone application.