Abstract
Habituation is a nonassociative learning mechanism, in which an initial response toward repeated stimuli gradually wanes. This is amongst the simplest and most widespread forms of behavioral plasticity. So far, neither the underlying molecular mechanisms nor the precise neural networks of habituation are well understood. We have developed a novel paradigm to quantify habituation of the olfactory jump reflex in Drosophila. We present data demonstrating several behavioral properties of this phenomenon, generally observed in other species. We also show that the dunce and rutabaga memory mutants behave abnormally in this assay, suggesting that this assay might be used in behavioral screens for new mutants with defects in this simpler form of behavioral plasticity.
Highlights
Habituation is a nonassociative learning mechanism whereby an initial response wanes towards repeated stimuli
We studied the different variables of the olfactory jump response and its decrement to repeated odor presentations for optimizing the habituation paradigm, and to demonstrate that the decrease in jump response reflects habituation rather than sensory or motor fatigue
Upon repeated presentation of 5% BA, the initial high levels of jump response gradually wanes—as we will discuss later, because the fly habituates. The rate of this response decrement depends on the intertrial interval (ITI; Figure 3)
Summary
Habituation is a nonassociative learning mechanism whereby an initial response wanes towards repeated stimuli. The best-studied system to date is the siphon withdrawal reflex in a marine mollusk, Aplysia californica Study of this circuit has shown that monosynaptic depression at presynaptic terminals of mechanoreceptor cells at least are partially responsible for diminishing responses during repeated tactile stimulation (Castellucci et al, 1970; Pinsker et al, 1970). This finding is consistent with data from work on crayfish (Krasne, 1969; Zucker, 1972), C. elegans (Wicks & Rankin, 1997), Aplysia (Rayport & Schacher, 1986) and rat cultured neurons (McFadden &Koshland, 1990). Additional studies suggest that monosynaptic depression cannot be the only mechanism to achieve behavior habituation, and other parallel neural mechanisms, such as long-term depression, might be present, as well (Peretz et al, 1976; Stopfer & Carew, 1996)
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