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Mar 21, 2024

Single Motor Neurons Analyzed in 3D in a Moving Fly Body

Posted by in category: neuroscience

A new study presents findings from the characterization of the individual roles of the motor neurons that control head movement in Drosophila melanogaster.


Despite the pivotal role of motor neurons in movement, how a single motor neuron contributes to control during movement remains unclear. Measuring the activity of individual neurons in moving animals has proven to be experimentally difficult.

However, advances have made it possible for researchers to manipulate single motor neurons in fruit flies as the insects move freely. A new study presents the findings from the characterization of the individual roles of the motor neurons that control head movement in Drosophila melanogaster.

The findings were published in Nature in the paper, “Motor neurons generate pose-targeted movements via proprioceptive sculpting.

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