Neuron
Volume 79, Issue 5, 4 September 2013, Pages 945-956
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Article
Different Kenyon Cell Populations Drive Learned Approach and Avoidance in Drosophila

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2013.07.045Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Differential representation of memory valence in Drosophila mushroom body neurons

  • αβ core neurons are specifically required for conditioned approach behavior

  • Relative aversive learning requires rewarding dopaminergic reinforcement

  • Distinct circuits drive learned aversion and approach

Summary

In Drosophila, anatomically discrete dopamine neurons that innervate distinct zones of the mushroom body (MB) assign opposing valence to odors during olfactory learning. Subsets of MB neurons have temporally unique roles in memory processing, but valence-related organization has not been demonstrated. We functionally subdivided the αβ neurons, revealing a value-specific role for the ∼160 αβ core (αβc) neurons. Blocking neurotransmission from αβ surface (αβs) neurons revealed a requirement during retrieval of aversive and appetitive memory, whereas blocking αβc only impaired appetitive memory. The αβc were also required to express memory in a differential aversive paradigm demonstrating a role in relative valuation and approach behavior. Strikingly, both reinforcing dopamine neurons and efferent pathways differentially innervate αβc and αβs in the MB lobes. We propose that conditioned approach requires pooling synaptic outputs from across the αβ ensemble but only from the αβs for conditioned aversion.

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