Learning to Fly

Trying to understand how our brains work, scientists often turn to the similar, but simpler, fruit fly. This reconstruction shows thousands of neurons (as coloured blobs) using stringy projections to connect different areas in the developing fly brain. Helping to untangle these 'wires', 3D electron microscopy reveals groups of neurons forming connections, or synapses, creating brain circuits suited to different tasks. Special neurons called Kenyon cells huddle together in two brain regions called mushroom bodies (clusters of tiny white blobs, left). These help to create associative memories – similar to circuits which help our brains to learn. For the first time, neurons feeding information into (green and blue) and out from (pink) the mushroom bodies are mapped in a sort of wiring diagram using specialist software. This is part of a worldwide effort to understand how learning and memory work inside fly brains, providing clues about human brains too.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Image from the University of Konstanz
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA
• Image copyright held by the original authors
• Research published in Nature, August 2017