Washington: Scientists achieved a breakthrough in neurobiology by mapping the complete brain of an adult fruit fly marking a significant step toward understanding the complex wiring of animal brains including humans. This accomplishment, announced Thursday by a team from Princeton University and the University of Cambridge, detailed more than 50 million connections across over 139,000 neurons in Drosophila melanogaster, the scientific name of the common fruit fly.
The research, published in the journal Nature, offers an unprecedented look at how brain connections orchestrate behavior, paving the way for further mapping of more complex brains in other species.
Professor Sebastian Seung, co-leader from Princeton University, explained the significance of the findings: “If we can truly understand how any brain functions, it’s bound to tell us something about all brains.” While many view flies as pests, Seung and his colleagues see them as valuable subjects that reveal fundamental insights about how brains operate.
The newly constructed brain map, known as a connectome, presents the wiring blueprint of the adult fruit fly’s brain. Previous connectome studies focused on simpler organisms like the worm Caenorhabditis elegans or on the fruit fly’s larval stage. The adult fruit fly, however, demonstrates more sophisticated behaviors, such as walking, flying, learning, and even social interactions, making it an intriguing model for studying complex brain functions
The research, led in part by neuroscientist Gregory Jefferis from the University of Cambridge, and neuroscientist Mala Murthy from Princeton University, provides insights into how the fruit fly’s brain wiring influences its behavior. Murthy explained, “Flies are an important model system for neurosciences. Their brains solve many of the same problems we do, from navigation to social interaction.”
Key findings from the study include:
Behavioral Circuits: Researchers examined circuits related to walking and discovered mechanisms behind why flies stop. They also mapped the taste network, which directs grooming actions such as using a leg to clean an antenna.
Visual Processing: The study explored how the fly’s visual system processes motion and color, offering clues about sensory processing in larger brains.
Hub Neurons: Scientists identified a network of “hub neurons” that could accelerate information flow, potentially a critical factor in efficient brain function.
Through detailed tracking of neuron types, synaptic connections, and chemical signaling, researchers assembled a comprehensive organization of the fly brain’s hemispheres and behavioral circuits. This mapping reveals distinct classes of neurons and synapses, each with unique chemical signals that orchestrate behavior.
The collaborative effort, led by the FlyWire Consortium, a global group of scientists, demonstrates the power of international research partnerships in advancing brain science.
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