Conflict or Complement: parallel memories control behaviour in the wee fly
Please note change of series location to Sherrington Library
Drosophila can learn to associate odours with reward or punishment and the resulting memories direct odour-specific approach or avoidance behaviours. Recent progress has revealed a straightforward model for learning in which reinforcing dopaminergic neurons assign valence to odour representations in the neural ensemble of the mushroom bodies. Dopamine directed synaptic depression alters the route of odour-driven activity through the mushroom body output network. This circuit configuration and influence of internal state guide the expression of appropriate behaviour. Importantly, learned behaviour is flexible and can be updated as the fly accumulates additional experience. Our latest studies demonstrate that well-informed behaviour is guided by combining parallel conflicting and complementary memories of opposite valence.
Date:
31 January 2020, 13:00 (Friday, 2nd week, Hilary 2020)
Venue:
Sherrington Library, off Parks Road OX1 3PT
Speaker:
Prof. Scott Waddell (University of Oxford)
Organising department:
Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics (DPAG)
Organisers:
Associate Professor Duncan Sparrow (DPAG, University of Oxford),
Professor Maike Glitsch (DPAG, University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address:
hod-pa@dpag.ox.ac.uk
Host:
Professor David Paterson (DPAG, University of Oxford)
Part of:
DPAG Head of Department Seminar Series
Booking required?:
Not required
Audience:
Members of the University only
Editor:
Talitha Smith
