Novel Single Fly Assay with Video Tracking: Exploring Drosophila melanogaster's Memory and Perception

Our understanding of learning and memory in Drosophila melanogaster heavily relies on the olfactory conditioning paradigm developed by Quinn in 1974 and Tully and Quinn's 1985 apparatus. While modifications have been made to the original apparatus to widen its applicability, the basis of many memory models has relied on its original design. This model has been used to significantly advance our understanding of memory. However, this model has several limitations that limit what we can learn from learning and memory experiments.

Considering the limitations of the current olfactory conditioning equipment, we sought to create an advanced single-fly apparatus that includes a video-tracking component that would allow us to analyze nuanced behaviors in both wild-type and mutant flies to gain deeper insights into the learning processes and memory expressions of these flies. Therefore, this assay would significantly broaden our understanding of the mechanisms underlying olfactory learning and memory in Drosophila. Our assay is capable of conditioning, testing, and analyzing behavioral metrics that can be used to explore learning and memory and whether we could identify behavioral correlates.

Given that our assay is simple and inexpensive, it is an accessible option for laboratories to explore memory formation. Fully characterizing the subtle behavioral responses during baseline, training, and expression of a memory in Drosophila, will provide a framework to study novel genes and further characterize known mutants. Novel insights into mutations with subtle memory phenotypes may provide novel strategies for treating memory disorders.