Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

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

Author Correction: Streptomyces produce a diphtheria toxin-like exotoxin that targets insects.

Nature microbiology·2026
Same author

Streptomyces produce a diphtheria toxin-like exotoxin that targets insects.

Nature microbiology·2026
Same author

A phytoscreen identifies a garlic compound as a deterrent of mating and egg laying in Drosophila and mosquitoes.

Cell·2026
Same author

The Sensory Basis of Planarian Behavior.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience·2026
Same author

Infrared radiation is an ancient pollination signal.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2025
Same author

TRPM-mediated mechanoreception regulates myosin oscillation during tissue elongation.

Current biology : CB·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 13, 2026

Tracking Drosophila Larval Behavior in Response to Optogenetic Stimulation of Olfactory Neurons
06:49

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

Published on: March 21, 2018

8.0K

Reverse-correlation analysis of navigation dynamics in Drosophila larva using optogenetics.

Luis Hernandez-Nunez1, Jonas Belina2, Mason Klein3

  • 1Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States.

Elife
|May 6, 2015
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed a new optogenetic system to map neural circuits controlling fruit fly larva navigation. This system quantifies how sensory neuron activation influences movement decisions, advancing our understanding of sensorimotor processing.

Keywords:
D. melanogasterchemotaxisgustationneuroscienceolfactionoptogenetics

More Related Videos

Optogenetic Perturbation of Neural Activity with Laser Illumination in Semi-intact Drosophila Larvae in Motion
07:07

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

Published on: July 4, 2013

12.1K
Light Spot-Based Assay for Analysis of Drosophila Larval Phototaxis
07:16

Light Spot-Based Assay for Analysis of Drosophila Larval Phototaxis

Published on: September 27, 2019

6.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 13, 2026

Tracking Drosophila Larval Behavior in Response to Optogenetic Stimulation of Olfactory Neurons
06:49

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

Published on: March 21, 2018

8.0K
Optogenetic Perturbation of Neural Activity with Laser Illumination in Semi-intact Drosophila Larvae in Motion
07:07

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

Published on: July 4, 2013

12.1K
Light Spot-Based Assay for Analysis of Drosophila Larval Phototaxis
07:16

Light Spot-Based Assay for Analysis of Drosophila Larval Phototaxis

Published on: September 27, 2019

6.9K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Computational Biology
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Understanding how neural circuits transform sensory information into motor outputs is crucial for deciphering behavior.
  • Quantitative frameworks are needed to analyze the complex dynamics of sensorimotor transformations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a high-throughput optogenetic system for Drosophila larva to quantify sensorimotor transformations in navigational behavior.
  • To establish a method for characterizing the valence and dynamics of navigation driven by specific sensory neuron activation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a red-shifted channelrhodopsin (CsChrimson) expressed in specific chemosensory neurons of Drosophila larva.
  • Exposed freely moving larvae to random optogenetic activation patterns and quantified behavioral responses.
  • Applied reverse-correlation analysis to uncover linear and nonlinear components of navigation dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Developed linear-nonlinear models that accurately predict navigational decisions based on optogenetic activation patterns.
  • Quantified the valence and dynamics of navigation induced by activating combinations of bitter-sensing gustatory neurons.
  • Demonstrated that the method captures optogenetically induced behavior in compact, quantitative transformations.

Conclusions:

  • The developed optogenetic system provides a powerful tool for dissecting sensorimotor circuits.
  • This approach enables quantitative characterization of neural circuit contributions to navigational decision-making.
  • The findings advance the understanding of how sensory inputs are translated into strategic motor outputs.