Play-like behaviour in fruit flies

Host: Dr Vincent Croset

About the speaker: Universität Leipzig: Dr. Wolf-Dietmar Hütteroth (uni-leipzig.de)

Abstract: Play-like behavior (PLB) is pervasive across the animal kingdom, especially in vertebrate species. Invertebrate PLB has been restricted to social or object interaction. Here we examined individual PLB in the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster by providing voluntary access to a spinning platform – a carousel. We demonstrate that flies exhibit idiosyncratic carousel interactions that qualify as play-like behavior. While some flies show spontaneous avoidance, others actively seek stimulation, engaging in repeated, prolonged visits to the carousel. The level of carousel engagement is impacted by genetic background, as implied by fly strain comparisons. We propose that flies voluntarily expose themselves to external forces to intentionally receive exafferent stimulation. This deliberate, yet indirect proprioceptive stimulation provides an efficient way to improve self-perception via internal model training and to shape multisensory integration. 

Contact Vincent.Croset@durham.ac.uk for more information about this event.