Search research articles

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

RAEM: random-access electron microscopy for revisitable 3D imaging.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Corrigendum to "Long term effectiveness of Solo+ TTD: A single step tympanostomy tube (TT) delivery device" [Int. J. Pediatr. Otorhinolaryngol. 198, (November 2025), 112567].

International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology·2026

Same author

Using DNA Origami to Study Nanoscale Organization of Plasma Membranes.

Nano letters·2026

Same author

Permeabilization with fenchone enhances cryopreservation of Drosophila embryos.

Biology letters·2026

Same author

The dynamic response of the bacterial flagellar motor to its direct intracellular input signal.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

Efficient pheromone navigation via antagonistic detectors in Caenorhabditis elegans male.

Nature communications·2026

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Retrograde Tracing of Drosophila Embryonic Motor Neurons Using Lipophilic Fluorescent Dyes

Retrograde Tracing of Drosophila Embryonic Motor Neurons Using Lipophilic Fluorescent Dyes

Published on: January 12, 2020

Two alternating motor programs drive navigation in Drosophila larva.

Subhaneil Lahiri¹, Konlin Shen, Mason Klein

¹Department of Physics, Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.

|August 23, 2011

Summary

Fruit fly larvae navigate temperature gradients using distinct motor programs. They alternate between peristalsis for forward movement and asymmetric muscle contractions for head sweeping during reorientation.

More Related Videos

Tracking Drosophila Larval Behavior in Response to Optogenetic Stimulation of Olfactory Neurons

Tracking Drosophila Larval Behavior in Response to Optogenetic Stimulation of Olfactory Neurons

Published on: March 21, 2018

Optogenetic Perturbation of Neural Activity with Laser Illumination in Semi-intact Drosophila Larvae in Motion

Optogenetic Perturbation of Neural Activity with Laser Illumination in Semi-intact Drosophila Larvae in Motion

Published on: July 4, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 30, 2026

Retrograde Tracing of Drosophila Embryonic Motor Neurons Using Lipophilic Fluorescent Dyes

Retrograde Tracing of Drosophila Embryonic Motor Neurons Using Lipophilic Fluorescent Dyes

Published on: January 12, 2020

Tracking Drosophila Larval Behavior in Response to Optogenetic Stimulation of Olfactory Neurons

Tracking Drosophila Larval Behavior in Response to Optogenetic Stimulation of Olfactory Neurons

Published on: March 21, 2018

Optogenetic Perturbation of Neural Activity with Laser Illumination in Semi-intact Drosophila Larvae in Motion

Optogenetic Perturbation of Neural Activity with Laser Illumination in Semi-intact Drosophila Larvae in Motion

Published on: July 4, 2013

Area of Science:

* Neuroscience
* Animal Behavior
* Biophysics

Background:

* Drosophila larvae exhibit thermotaxis, navigating temperature gradients to avoid extremes.
* This navigation involves complex reorientation maneuvers between periods of forward movement.

Purpose of the Study:

* To characterize the motor programs underlying reorientation maneuvers in Drosophila larvae during thermotaxis.
* To investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of body segments during these maneuvers.

Main Methods:

* Utilized fluorescent muscle fibers to measure body segment dynamics in freely moving Drosophila larvae.
* Exposed larvae to temporal changes in temperature to induce thermotactic responses.

Main Results:

* Reorientation maneuvers exhibit stereotyped spatiotemporal patterns of segment dynamics.
* Head sweeping is driven by asymmetric contraction of anterior body segments.
* Peristalsis waves realign posterior segments for new forward movement direction.

Conclusions:

* Drosophila larval thermotaxis relies on two alternating motor programs: peristalsis and asymmetric anterior segment contraction.
* These programs facilitate efficient navigation by coordinating forward movement and reorientation.