Sensation of electric fields in the Drosophila melanogaster larva

Abstract

Category: Neuroscience Tags: electrosensation, Drosophila melanogaster, electric fields, sensory neurons, invertebrates, electrotaxis, neural responses DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.03.014 URL: cell.com Overview Electrosensation has emerged as a crucial sensory modality for social communication, foraging, and predation across the animal kingdom. However, its presence and functional role as well as the neural basis of electric field perception in Drosophila and other invertebrates remain unclear. Findings - In controlled electric field environments, researchers identified electrosensation as a new sense in Drosophila melanogaster larvae. - Larvae perform robust electrotaxis: when exposed to a uniform electric field, they migrate toward the cathode (negatively charged electrode) and respond quickly to changes in field orientation to maintain cathodal movement. - A behavioral screen identified specific sensory neurons at the tip of the larval head necessary for electrotaxis. - Calcium imaging revealed that a pair of Gr66a-positive sensory neurons (one on each side of the head) encodes the strength and orientation of the electric field. Conclusion Electric fields elicit robust behavioral and neural responses in Drosophila larvae, providing new evidence for the significance of electrosensation in invertebrates. This research supports the notion that electric field exposure can have measurable biological effects via specific neural mechanisms.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In controlled electric field environments, Drosophila melanogaster larvae showed robust electrotaxis, migrating toward the cathode and rapidly adjusting to changes in field orientation. A behavioral screen implicated sensory neurons at the tip of the larval head as necessary for electrotaxis, and calcium imaging indicated that Gr66a-positive sensory neurons encode electric field strength and orientation.

Outcomes measured

• electrotaxis behavior (movement toward cathode; response to field orientation changes)
• identification of sensory neurons necessary for electrotaxis (behavioral screen)
• neural encoding of electric field strength and orientation (calcium imaging in Gr66a-positive sensory neurons)

Limitations

• No electric field parameters (e.g., field strength, waveform, frequency) reported in the provided abstract
• No exposure duration reported
• Sample size not reported
• Findings are in an invertebrate larval model; generalizability to other species or human-relevant EMF exposures is not addressed in the abstract

{
    "study_type": "animal",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "controlled electric field environment",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Drosophila melanogaster larvae",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "electrotaxis behavior (movement toward cathode; response to field orientation changes)",
        "identification of sensory neurons necessary for electrotaxis (behavioral screen)",
        "neural encoding of electric field strength and orientation (calcium imaging in Gr66a-positive sensory neurons)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In controlled electric field environments, Drosophila melanogaster larvae showed robust electrotaxis, migrating toward the cathode and rapidly adjusting to changes in field orientation. A behavioral screen implicated sensory neurons at the tip of the larval head as necessary for electrotaxis, and calcium imaging indicated that Gr66a-positive sensory neurons encode electric field strength and orientation.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "No electric field parameters (e.g., field strength, waveform, frequency) reported in the provided abstract",
        "No exposure duration reported",
        "Sample size not reported",
        "Findings are in an invertebrate larval model; generalizability to other species or human-relevant EMF exposures is not addressed in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electrosensation",
        "Drosophila melanogaster",
        "larva",
        "electric fields",
        "electrotaxis",
        "sensory neurons",
        "calcium imaging",
        "Gr66a"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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