http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0990-0342
![Sample our Bioscience journals, sign in here to start your access, Latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5925/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Bioscience.jpg"})
Abstract
The field has successfully used Drosophila genetic tools to identify neurons and sub-circuits important for specific functions. However, for an organism with complex and changing internal states to succeed in a complex and changing natural environment, many neurons and circuits need to interact dynamically. Drosophila’s many advantages, combined with new imaging tools, offer unique opportunities to study how the brain functions as a complex dynamical system. We give an overview of complex activity patterns and how they can be observed, as well as modeling strategies, adding proof of principle in some cases.
Acknowledgements
We thank Ruben Portugues for helpful comments on the manuscript.
Disclosure of interest
The authors report no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Funding
This work was supported by the Technical University of Munich, by the ERC [FlyContext to IGK, 637472] and the German Research Foundation [FOR2705].