Effects of Specific Interneuron Populations on Muscle Contraction Patterns in Drosophila melanogaster During Crawling Behavior

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Date

Spring 2015

Disciplines

Biology | Life Sciences

Advisor

Jennifer Schaefer, Biology

Abstract

Drosophila melanogaster were studied to generate a better understanding of the function and arrangement of neural circuits involved in motor control. A complete understanding of the specific type and location of interneuron populations that control Drosophila melanogaster larval crawling does not exist. This study genetically silenced five interneuron populations and analyzed the resulting behavioral changes. This study’s results provide insight into the organization and function of one neural circuit in the model organism Drosophila melanogaster. Such information can be used to inform further investigations of the fundamental rules of circuit function.

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