mushroom bodies – mycolab.ai

Postsynaptic plasticity of cholinergic synapses underlies the induction and expression of appetitive and familiarity memories in Drosophila

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Scientists discovered that fruit flies store memories using postsynaptic changes at cholinergic synapses, similar to how humans use postsynaptic mechanisms at glutamate synapses. Specific acetylcholine receptor subunits (α5 and α2) in brain cells called M4/6 neurons are required for different stages of memory formation. The research shows that fundamental memory storage mechanisms are conserved across evolution despite differences in the chemical messengers used.

The Neural Signature of Visual Learning Under Restrictive Virtual-Reality Conditions

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Scientists studied how honey bees learn to distinguish different colors in a virtual reality environment. By examining the brains of bees that successfully learned versus those that didn’t, researchers found that successful learning caused specific genes to be turned down in key visual brain regions. This suggests that learning involves not just turning genes on, but also turning some off, which may help the brain focus on important visual information. The findings help us understand how animal brains process visual information and learn from experience.

The ant’s weapon improves honey bee learning performance

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Formic acid, a natural chemical used by ants for defense, is commonly used by beekeepers to kill harmful Varroa mites that damage honey bee colonies. Researchers found that treating bee colonies with formic acid unexpectedly improved the bees’ ability to learn and remember new scents, even though it didn’t change their preference for sugar solutions. This beneficial side effect might help bee colonies recover faster after treatment by improving their foraging abilities.

Dopamine activity in projection neurons regulates short-lasting olfactory approach memory in Drosophila

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Fruit flies learn to avoid dangerous smells and approach safe smells during training. Scientists discovered that flies form both types of memories at the same time, but they work differently in the brain. Safe-smell memories are made using special brain areas and chemical signals that are different from danger memories. These findings help us understand how brains separate good and bad experiences.

Age-related mushroom body expansion in male sweat bees and bumble bees

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Researchers studied how male bee brains change as they mature using microscopy to measure brain structures. They found that mushroom bodies, regions associated with learning and memory, expanded significantly in maturing males of two bee species even when kept in isolation without normal experiences. This suggests that brains naturally prepare for mating behaviors through development rather than requiring experience, and shows that male insects undergo similar brain changes as females.

Research Keyword: mushroom bodies

Postsynaptic plasticity of cholinergic synapses underlies the induction and expression of appetitive and familiarity memories in Drosophila

The Neural Signature of Visual Learning Under Restrictive Virtual-Reality Conditions

The ant’s weapon improves honey bee learning performance

Dopamine activity in projection neurons regulates short-lasting olfactory approach memory in Drosophila

Age-related mushroom body expansion in male sweat bees and bumble bees