Neural Evolution of Context-Dependent Fly Song
authors: Yun Ding, Joshua L. Lillvis, Jessica Cande, Gordon J. Berman, Benjamin J. Arthur, Xi Long, Min Xu, Barry J. Dickson, David L. Stern
doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.02.019
CITATION
Ding, Y., Lillvis, J. L., Cande, J., Berman, G. J., Arthur, B. J., Long, X., Xu, M., Dickson, B. J., & Stern, D. L. (2019). Neural Evolution of Context-Dependent Fly Song. Current Biology, 29(7), 1089-1099.e7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.02.019
ABSTRACT
It is unclear where in the nervous system evolutionary changes tend to occur. To localize the source of neural evolution that has generated divergent behaviors, we developed a new approach to label and functionally manipulate homologous neurons across Drosophila species. We examined homologous descending neurons that drive courtship song in two species that sing divergent song types and localized relevant evolutionary changes in circuit function downstream of the intrinsic physiology of these descending neurons. This evolutionary change causes different species to produce divergent motor patterns in similar social contexts. Artificial stimulation of these descending neurons drives multiple song types, suggesting that multifunctional properties of song circuits may facilitate rapid evolution of song types.