Abstract
MEMORY in many organisms can be disrupted by anaesthesia or electroconvulsive shock applied shortly after training. Later, if left undisturbed, the memory becomes immune to these agents. This suggests that learned information is stored by the brain in more than one form1–4. A population of Drosophila melanogaster can be trained to avoid an odorant by presenting the odour in combination with electric shock. When tested later without shock, the flies avoid this odorant specifically (ref. 5 and unpublished results of Y.D.). By anaesthetising the flies briefly with cold at various times between training and testing, we have found two memory components in Drosophila.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
McGaugh, J. L., Science, 153, 1351–1358 (1966).
Agranoff, B. W., in Neurosciences Study Program (edit. by Quarten, G. C., Melnechuk, T. O., and Schmitt, F.O.), 756–764 (Rockefeller University Press, New York, 1967).
Barondes, S. H., in Neurosciences Second Study Program (edit. by Schmitt, F. O.), 272–278 (Rockefeller University Press, New York, 1970).
McGaugh, J. L., Zornetzer, S. F., and Gold, P. E., Q. Rev. Biophys., 5, 163–186 (1972).
Quinn, W. G., Harris, W. A., and Benzer, S., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 71, 708–712 (1975).
Madsen, M. C., and McGaugh, J. L., J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 54, 522–527 (1961).
Chen, W. Y., Aranda, L. C., and Luco, J. V., Anim. Behav., 18, 725–732 (1970).
Menzel, R., Erber, J. T., and Masuhr, T., in Experimental Analysis of Insect Behaviour (edit. by Barton Browne, L.), 195–217 (Springer, Berlin, 1975).
Benzer, S., Scient. Am., 226, 24–37 (1973).
Dudai, Y., Jan, Y. N., Byers, D., Quinn, W. G., and Benzer, S., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 73, 1684–1688 (1976).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
QUINN, W., DUDAI, Y. Memory phases in Drosophila. Nature 262, 576–577 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/262576a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/262576a0
This article is cited by
-
Forgotten memory storage and retrieval in Drosophila
Nature Communications (2023)
-
A neural m6A/Ythdf pathway is required for learning and memory in Drosophila
Nature Communications (2021)
-
Rapid active zone remodeling consolidates presynaptic potentiation
Nature Communications (2019)
-
Biochemical and Behavioral Evaluation of Human MAPT Mutations in Transgenic Drosophila melanogaster
Biochemical Genetics (2016)
-
Cold and CO2 narcosis have long-lasting and dissimilar effects on Bombus terrestris
Insectes Sociaux (2015)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.