Studying complex brain dynamics using Drosophila

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.

Keywords:

• Brain dynamics
• Drosophila
• whole-brain imaging
• complex systems

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].