Neuronal Control of Drosophila Walking Direction

Abstract

Backward or Forward Although land animals generally walk forward, they readily switch to walking backward if they sense an obstruction or danger in the path ahead. Such a switch is likely to involve a neural signal sent from the brain down to local motor circuits, instructing these motor circuits to alter the phase at which specific leg muscles are activated. Bidaye et al. (p. 97 ; see the Perspective by Mann ) identified such a neuron in Drosophila , which they call MDN (moonwalker descending neuron). Blocking synaptic transmission from MDN inhibited backward walking, and conversely artificially activating MDN caused flies to walk backward.