Ten thousand neurons linked to behaviors in fly
New view of brain reveals functions of specific cells
By scrutinizing the twists, turns, wiggles and squirms of 37,780 fruit fly larvae, neuroscientists have created an unprecedented view of how brain cells create behavior. The results, published March 27 in Science, draw direct connections between neurons and specific movements.
“Understanding how neural activity gives rise to behavior is the most important question in neuroscience,” says neuroscientist Kay Tye of MIT, who was not involved in the research. The new study provides a way for scientists to start answering that question, she says. “I think this is a really important approach that’s going to be very influential.”