Ants, like many other animals, use visual memory to follow extended routes through complex environments, but it is unknown how their small brains implement this capability. The mushroom body neuropils have been identified as a crucial circuit in the insect brain, function has mostly explored for simple olfactory association tasks. We show that spiking neural model of originally developed describe fruitfly (Drosophila melanogaster) association, can also account ability desert ants...

Taxis behaviour in Drosophila larva is thought to consist of distinct control mechanisms triggering specific actions. Here, we support a simpler hypothesis: that taxis results from direct sensory modulation continuous lateral oscillations the anterior body, sparing need for ‘action selection’. Our analysis larvae motion reveals rhythmic, oscillation encompassing all head-sweeps, small or large, without breaking oscillatory rhythm. Further, show an agent-model embeds this hypothesis...

The Drosophila larva executes a stereotypical exploratory routine that appears to consist of stochastic alternation between straight peristaltic crawling and reorientation events through lateral bending. We present model larval mechanics for axial transverse motion over planar substrate, use it develop simple, reflexive neuromuscular from physical principles. mechanical represents the midline as set point masses which interact with each other via damped translational torsional springs,...

Plasticity-inducing stimuli must typically be presented many times before synaptic plasticity is expressed, perhaps because induction signals gradually accumulate overt strength changes occur. We consider memory dynamics in a mathematical model with synapses that integrate expressing plasticity. find the trace initially rises reaching maximum and then falling. The signal dissociates into separate oblivescence reminiscence components, dominating recall. In radical contrast, related but...

Goal-directed behaviors may be poorly coordinated in young animals but, with age and experience, behavior progressively adapts to efficiently exploit the animal's ecological niche. How experience impinges on developing neural circuits of is an open question. We have conducted a detailed study effects ontogeny hunting larval zebrafish. report that larvae prior live prey consume considerably more than naive larvae. This mainly due increased capture success modest increase hunt rate....

A stochastic model of spike-timing-dependent plasticity proposes that single synapses express fixed-amplitude jumps in strength, the amplitudes being independent spike time difference. However, probability a jump strength occurs does depend on timing. Although has number desirable features, stochasticity response synapse introduces potentially large fluctuations into changes synaptic strength. These can destabilize segregated patterns afferent connectivity characteristic neuronal...

Abstract We present a bioluminescence method, based on the calcium-reporter Aequorin (AEQ), that exploits targeted transgenic expression patterns to identify activity of specific neural groups in larval Drosophila nervous system. first refine, for intact but constrained larva, choice transgene and method delivery co-factor coelenterazine assay luminescence signal produced different concentrations co-factor, using standard photo-counting techniques. then develop an apparatus allows...

Abstract The Drosophila larva executes a stereotypical exploratory routine that appears to consist of stochastic alternation between straight peristaltic crawling and reorientation events through lateral bending. We present model larval mechanics for axial transverse motion over planar substrate, use it develop simple, reflexive neuromuscular from physical principles. In the absence damping driving, body produces travelling waves, oscillations, unpredictable, chaotic deformations. system...

Abstract The success of goal-directed behaviours relies on the coordinated execution a sequence component actions. In young animals, such sequences may be poorly coordinated, but with age and experience, behaviour progressively adapts to efficiently exploit animal’s ecological niche. How experience impinges developing neural circuits is an open question. As model system, larval zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) hold enormous potential for studying both development underlying circuits, no relevant...