Associative learning: Hebbian flies

Curr Biol. 2005 Jun 7;15(11):R416-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2005.05.028.

Abstract

Fruit flies can learn to associate an odor with an aversive stimulus, such as a shock. New findings indicate that disrupting the expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in flies impairs olfactory conditioning. The findings provide support for a critical role for NMDA receptors in associative learning.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Association Learning / physiology*
  • Conditioning, Psychological / physiology
  • Drosophila / physiology*
  • Long-Term Potentiation / physiology
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Models, Neurological*
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism
  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / physiology*
  • Smell / physiology*

Substances

  • Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate