In search of light processing and behavior in Drosophila larvae

Although larvae of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster possess small eyes and tiny brains, they show a surprisingly diverse array of interesting responses to visual stimuli. The light perception is mediated by photoreceptors-neurons in the eye. These neurons project into the larval optic neuropile, where the visual information is transmitted to downstream neurons. How visual stimuli control behavior is still not fully understood. I am interested in how certain stages of the visual information pathway are communicating with each other in order to control visual behavior. Using patch-clamp and calcium imaging technique, I investigate neuronal activity of individual cells of this complex neuronal circuit. These results will be combined with behavioral test.