The Repair Manual of a Fruit Fly Brain

The brain is a complex organ; its diverse functions and plasticity correspond with an intricate structure. Integrating sensory inputs with internal physiological states, the brain orchestrates balance, posture, movement, speech, emotions, the creation of memories, and the ability to learn. Whether due to trauma, disease, or stroke, disruptions to brain architecture have long-lasting consequences for a person's physical, behavioral, emotional, and cognitive health. Comparative studies using model systems to identify meaningful therapies and treatments are critical to elucidate the mechanisms underlying regenerative processes in the brain. This review focuses on the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, which has a large repertoire of available molecular and genetic tools for investigation of neural regeneration.