美国哥伦比亚大学Richard Axel和Kevin M. Cury共同合作，近期取得重要工作进展。他们研究发现了果蝇产卵行为序列中过渡点的灵活神经控制。相关研究成果2023年5月22日在线发表于《自然—神经科学》杂志上。

据介绍，固有行为通常由有序的组件动作序列组成，这些动作不断发展以满足基本驱动。进展是由专门的感觉线索控制的，这些线索在适当的上下文中诱导成分之间的转换。

研究人员对果蝇产卵行为序列的结构进行了表征，并发现组件动作之间的转换具有显著的可变性，这为生物体提供了适应性灵活性。研究人员确定了不同类别的内感受和外感受感觉神经元，它们控制序列末端成分之间转换的时间和方向。研究人员还发现了一对运动神经元，它们实现了向卵子排出的最后过渡。

总之，这些研究结果为先天行为的组织提供了一种逻辑，在这种逻辑中，在关键时刻处理的感官信息允许对组件动作进行灵活调整，以满足不同内部和外部环境的驱动。

附：英文原文

Title: Flexible neural control of transition points within the egg-laying behavioral sequence in Drosophila

Author: Cury, Kevin M., Axel, Richard

Issue&Volume: 2023-05-22

Abstract: Innate behaviors are frequently comprised of ordered sequences of component actions that progress to satisfy essential drives. Progression is governed by specialized sensory cues that induce transitions between components within the appropriate context. Here we have characterized the structure of the egg-laying behavioral sequence in Drosophila and found significant variability in the transitions between component actions that affords the organism an adaptive flexibility. We identified distinct classes of interoceptive and exteroceptive sensory neurons that control the timing and direction of transitions between the terminal components of the sequence. We also identified a pair of motor neurons that enact the final transition to egg expulsion. These results provide a logic for the organization of innate behavior in which sensory information processed at critical junctures allows for flexible adjustments in component actions to satisfy drives across varied internal and external environments.

DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01332-5

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-023-01332-5