Sequential Learning of Pheromonal Cues Modulates Memory Consolidation in Trainer-Specific Associative Courtship Conditioning

Ejima, Aki; Smith, B. L.; Lucas, Christophe; Levine, Joel D.; Griffith, Leslie C.

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2005.01.035

Cited by 96 publications

(134 citation statements)

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“…Whereas differences in the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles between individual males or females of any fly line are reportedly small (25), they still might be detectable and used for recognition purposes. This mechanism has been elegantly demonstrated in courtship conditioning experiments showing that the learning of the behavioral suppression depends on hydrocarbon olfactory cues given off by the behavioral trainers with males being able to distinguish between immature virgins, mature virgins and mature mated flies in the subsequent suppression of the behavior (26). Further studies will be required to address this issue as well.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…How flies recognize each other in re-pairings during fights is unknown. One possibility is that cuticular hydrocarbons may be involved (25,26), because fencing, in which flies tap the surface of opponents, is the most prominent behavioral pattern seen during fruit fly fights and is commonly seen during the initial approach and contact between opponents. Whereas differences in the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles between individual males or females of any fly line are reportedly small (25), they still might be detectable and used for recognition purposes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Learning and memory associated with aggression in Drosophila melanogaster

Yurkovic

Wang

Basu

et al. 2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

128

144

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Male Drosophila melanogaster (Canton-S strain) exhibit aggression in competition for resources, to defend territory, and for access to mates. In the study reported here, we asked: (i) how long flies fight; (ii) whether flies adopt distinct winning and losing strategies as hierarchical relationships are established; (iii) whether flies exhibit experience-dependent changes in fighting strategies in later fights; and (iv) whether flies fight differently in second fights against familiar or unfamiliar opponents. The results showed that flies fought for up to 5 h. As hierarchical relationships were established, behavioral strategies changed: winners progressively lunged more and retreated less, whereas losers progressively lunged less and retreated more. Encounters between flies were frequent during the first 10 min of pairing and then dropped significantly. To ask whether flies remembered previous fights, they were re-paired with familiar or unfamiliar opponents after 30 min of separation. In familiar pairings, there were fewer encounters during the first 10 min of fighting than in unfamiliar pairings, and former losers fought differently against familiar winners than unfamiliar winners. Former losers lost or no decision was reached in all second fights in pairings with familiar or unfamiliar winners or with naive flies. Winner͞winner, loser͞loser, and naive͞naive pairings revealed that losers used low-intensity strategies in later fights and were unlikely to form new hierarchical relationships, compared with winners or socially naive flies. These results strongly support the idea that learning and memory accompany the changes in social status that result from fruit fly fights.behavior ͉ dominance ͉ fruit fly ͉ social status ͉ fighting

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Learning and memory associated with aggression in Drosophila melanogaster

Yurkovic

Wang

Basu

et al. 2006

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

128

144

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Also see Table 1. sensory cue (Tompkins et al 1983;Gailey et al 1984;Ejima et al 2005), and provide direct evidence that a minor cuticular hydrocarbon functions as a significant component of this conditioned stimulus. Based on the reasoning that trained males would exhibit a learned response only in courtship tests with targets that expressed a conditioned stimulus, flies with different combinations of putative female aphrodisiac cues were used as test targets, and assessed for their ability to elicit a learned response from CS males.…”

Section: (A) LI Versus 9-p (B) Li Versus 7-t (C) Li Versus 5-h (mentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of cuticular pheromones in courtship conditioning of Drosophila males

Siwicki¹,

Riccio²,

Ladewski³

et al. 2005

Learn. Mem.

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Courtship conditioning is an associative learning paradigm in Drosophila melanogaster, wherein male courtship behavior is modified by experience with unreceptive, previously mated females. While the training experience with mated females involves multiple sensory and behavioral interactions, we hypothesized that female cuticular hydrocarbons function as a specific chemosensory conditioned stimulus in this learning paradigm. The effects of training with mated females were determined in courtship tests with either wild-type virgin females as courtship targets, or with target flies of different genotypes that express distinct cuticular hydrocarbon (CH) profiles. Results of tests with female targets that lacked the normal CH profile, and with male targets that expressed typically female CH profiles, indicated that components of this CH profile are both necessary and sufficient cues to elicit the effects of conditioning. Results with additional targets indicated that the female-specific 7,11-dienes, which induce naive males to court, are not essential components of the conditioned stimulus. Rather, the learned response was significantly correlated with the levels of 9-pentacosene (9-P), a compound found in both males and females of many Drosophila strains and species. Adding 9-P to target flies showed that it stimulates courting males to attempt to copulate, and confirmed its role as a component of the conditioned stimulus by demonstrating dose-dependent increases in the expression of the learned response. Thus, 9-P can contribute significantly to the conditioned suppression of male courtship toward targets that express this pheromone.

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“…Cognition also has important effects on the process of sexual selection (Boogert, Fawcett, et al., 2011; Ryan et al., 2009). Previous research on the role of cognition in mate choice has primarily focused on learning in the contexts of courtship behavior (Beecher & Brenowitz, 2005; Ejima, Smith, Lucas, Levine, & Griffith, 2005; Hollis, Pharr, Dumas, Britton, & Field, 1997; King & West, 1983; Maggio, Maggio, & Whitney, 1983), and sexual trait preferences (Dukas, 2008; Galef & White, 1998; Hebets, 2003; reviewed in Ryan et al., 2009). More recently, evidence is growing that cognition may assist males in obtaining mates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship between male sexual signals, cognitive performance, and mating success in stickleback fish

Minter

Keagy

Tinghitella

2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Cognitive ability varies dramatically among individuals, yet the manner in which this variation correlates with reproduction has rarely been investigated. Here, we ask (1) do male sexual signals reflect their cognitive ability, and (2) is cognitive ability associated with male mating success? Specifically, we presented threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) with a detour‐reaching task to assess initial inhibitory control. Fish that performed better were those who solved the detour‐reaching task, solved it faster, and required fewer attempts to solve. We then reexamined males’ performance on this task over several days to assess learning ability in this context. We next measured sexual signals (coloration, nest area, and courtship vigor) and asked whether they reveal information about these male cognitive abilities. Finally, we examined whether success at attracting a female is associated with male cognition. After controlling for the strong effect of neophobia, we found that no measured sexual signals were associated with initial inhibitory control. Sexual signals were also not associated with change in performance on the detour‐reaching task over time (learning). However, females preferred mating with males who had better initial inhibitory control. We speculate that inhibitory control is a critical trait for male sticklebacks. In this system, males perform all parental care, but must avoid eating their own fry which closely resemble their prey items. Therefore, males with better inhibitory control may be more likely to successfully raise their offspring to independence. Our research adds to a growing list of mating systems and taxa in which cognition is important for measures related to fitness.

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Sequential Learning of Pheromonal Cues Modulates Memory Consolidation in Trainer-Specific Associative Courtship Conditioning

Abstract: Suppression of memory by new learning demonstrates that the dynamics of memory consolidation are subject to plasticity in Drosophila. This type of metaplasticity is essential for navigation of experience-rich natural environments.

Cited by 96 publications

References 69 publications

Learning and memory associated with aggression in Drosophila melanogaster

Learning and memory associated with aggression in Drosophila melanogaster

The role of cuticular pheromones in courtship conditioning of Drosophila males

The relationship between male sexual signals, cognitive performance, and mating success in stickleback fish

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