Sensation of electric fields in the Drosophila melanogaster larva
This animal study reports that Drosophila melanogaster larvae can sense electric fields and exhibit robust electrotaxis toward the cathode in controlled environments. The authors identify head-tip sensory neurons required for this behavior and report calcium-imaging evidence that Gr66a-positive neurons encode field strength and orientation. The work supports electrosensation as a functional sensory modality in Drosophila larvae and demonstrates measurable neural and behavioral responses to electric fields under the studied conditions.
Key points
- Larvae migrated toward the cathode when exposed to a uniform electric field, consistent with electrotaxis.
- Larvae rapidly responded to changes in field orientation to maintain cathodal movement.
- A behavioral screen identified sensory neurons at the tip of the larval head as necessary for electrotaxis.
- Calcium imaging implicated a bilateral pair of Gr66a-positive sensory neurons in encoding field strength and orientation.
- The study frames electrosensation as a sensory modality with a defined neural basis in an invertebrate model.
- The abstract does not report exposure parameters, limiting interpretation of relevance to other electric-field contexts.
Referenced studies & papers
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AI-generated summaries may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.
AI-generated summaries may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.
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