Our lastest manuscript is live! "Neural circuitry of dialects through social learning in Drosophila." on bioRxiv

Paper available here

Abstract

Drosophila species communicate the presence of parasitoid wasps to naïve individuals. This observation suggests a rudimentary Drosophila social structure. Communication between closely related species is efficient, while more distantly related species exhibit a dampened, partial communication. Partial communication between some species is enhanced following a period of cohabitation, suggesting that species-specific variations in communication "dialects" can be learned through social interactions. However, it remains unclear as to how the behavioral acquisition and how learning dialects is facilitated by distinct brain regions. In this study, we have identified six regions of the Drosophila brain essential for dialect learning, including the odorant receptor Or69a. Furthermore, we pinpoint subgroups of neurons such as motion detecting neurons in the optic lobe, layer 5 of the fan-shaped body, and the D glomerulus in the antennal lobe, where activation of each are necessary for dialect learning. These results demonstrate that Drosophila can display complex social behaviors with inputs to multiple regions of the Drosophila brain and unique subsets of neurons that must integrate olfactory, visual and motion cues

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Our p̶r̶e̶p̶r̶i̶n̶t̶ paper is l̶i̶v̶e̶ published! "New Drosophila Long-Term Memory Genes Revealed by Assessing Computational Function Prediction Methods" out now at G3

Our p̶r̶e̶p̶r̶i̶n̶t̶ paper is l̶i̶v̶e̶ published! "New Drosophila Long-Term Memory Genes Revealed by Assessing Computational Function Prediction Methods" out now at G3. We utilized a bioinformatic gene prediction approach in order to elucidate novel Drosophila learning and memory genes.

http://www.g3journal.org/content/early/2018/11/21/g3.118.200867

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Press from Kacsoh et al, 2018 in PlosGenetics

our paper featured on the PlosGenetics homepage

our paper featured on the PlosGenetics homepage

 

From our paper on a the ability of fruitflies to learn dialects

Kacsoh et al, 2018 PlosGenetics

 

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Perspective article on our publication

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"Maybe the “lowly” fruit fly, when studied closer to its natural environment, can teach us all something about the benefits of multiculturalism, namely, that by communicating with one another and working together, we can create a more productive and safe society. "

 

J. Robert Manak

PlosGenetics, 7/19/18

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Fruit fly species can learn each other's dialects

PLOS

Eureka Alert, 7/19/18

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Dartmouth Researchers Discover That Fruit Fly Species Use Social Learning to Protect Offspring

Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

Timothy Dean, 7/24/18

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Fruit fly species can learn each other's dialects

Public Library of Science, 7/19/18

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Fruit fly species can learn each other's dialects

Science Daily, 7/19/18

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Science: Fruit fly species can learn each other’s dialects [Report]

Brinkwire, 7/19/18

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Fruit fly species can be taught one another’s dialects

Today, 7/20/18

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Research: Communal living improves interspecies communication between fruit flies

James M. Patterson, 7/19/18

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Fruit flies warn other species about wasp danger

Tanya Loos, 7/23/18

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Our p̶r̶e̶p̶r̶i̶n̶t̶ paper is l̶i̶v̶e̶ published! Fruitflies learn dialects through communal living

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In our study, we present an evolutionarily conserved response to predatory wasps across the genus Drosophila, manifesting as egg laying depression coincident social communication of the predator threat to naïve, non-wasp exposed flies. We observe variation in communication ability between different fly species, even though there exists a conserved fly “language” permitting efficient communication of a wasp threat within a single species. Thus, we suggest that variation in communication ability to be analogous to “dialects,” as the term reflects natural variations between a common mode of communication, which can be alleviated through socialization between species. We propose dialect learning to be a novel behavior, which we demonstrate requires visual and olfactory inputs, perhaps integrated in and relayed through the mushroom body, resulting in the ability to more efficiently receive information about a common predator. Without dialect learning, this information would otherwise be lost in translation, resulting in an inefficient behavioral response with significant survival disadvantages. The multimodal process by which flies learn dialects hints at a high level of cognitive plasticity. Thus, there is a real benefit to cognitive plasticity, where sharing of information directly, or by coincident bystanders, could result in behavioral immunity to pan-specific threats. We plan to build upon our work by elucidating the neural circuitry that governs dialect learning to discern how this multimodally acquired information is processed on the neuronal level and manifests as this complex communicative behavior. Following the identification of the key circuitry, we plan on identifying important genetic factors within neuron populations identified that also drive this cognitive plasticity.

Press from Kacsoh et al, 2013 in Science

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From our paper on flies laying eggs in alcohol when wasps are around
Kacsoh et al. 2013

Insects and alcohol
Bob Hirshon
AAAS, Science Update, 3/8/2013
link with audio

Fruit flies medicate young against parasites
Lydia O'Neal
The Emory Wheel, 3/4/2013
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Mother flies dose offspring with alcohol
Bob McDonald
CBC, Quirks and Quarks, 2/23/2013
link with audio

Alkohol von Dr. Fliege
Volkart Wildermuth
German Public Radio, 2/22/2013
link with audio

Fruit flies use alcohol to protect their young from body-snatchers
Ed Yong
National Geographic, 2/21/2013
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Fruit flies force their young to drink alcohol - for their own good
Carol Clark
eScience Commons, 2/21/2013
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Press from Milan and Kacsoh et al 2012 publication

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From our paper on infected fly larvae consuming alcohol
Milan et al. 2012

The parasite that drives flies to drink
Alex Wild
Scientific American, 3/5/2012
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Fruit flies seek out alcohol
anonymous
The Onion, 2/21/2012
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Cheers! Fruit flies drink to their health, literally
Veronique Lacapra
NPR, All Things Considered, 2/21/2012
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Flies drink alcohol to medicate themselves against wasp infections
Ed Yong
Discover Magazine, 2/20/2012
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Fruit flies resort to alcohol
Meera Senthilingam
BBC, Naked Scientists, 2/19/2010
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Anti-biotic booze
Bob McDonald
CBC, Quirks and Quarks, 2/18/2012
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To evict parasite, canny fruit flies pick their poison
Carl Zimmer
New York Times, 2/16/2012
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Fruit flies use alcohol to self-medicate, but feel bad about it afterwards
Rob Dunn
Scientific American, 2/16/2012
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Fruit flies use alcohol as a drug to kill parasites
Carol Clark
eScienceCommons, 2/16/2012
link with video