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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2023.08.03.551880

Voluntary passive movement in flies is play-like behavior

Triphan, T.·Huetteroth, W.
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Abstract

Play-like behaviour (PLB) is pervasive across the animal kingdom, especially in vertebrate species. Invertebrate PLB has been restricted to social or object interaction. Here we examined individual PLB in the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster by providing voluntary access to a spinning platform - a carousel. We demonstrate that flies exhibit idiosyncratic carousel interactions that qualify as play-like behaviour. While some flies show spontaneous avoidance, others actively seek stimulation, engaging in repeated, prolonged visits to the carousel. We propose that flies voluntarily expose themselves to external forces to intentionally receive exafferent stimulation. Self stimulation provides an efficient way to improve self-perception via internal model training and can shape multisensory integration. One-Sentence SummaryVinegar flies seek passive movement. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=158 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/551880v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (88K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@154aaadorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1917ae8org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1c172corg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@356ca3_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

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Triphan, T., Huetteroth, W.. 2023-08-04. Voluntary passive movement in flies is play-like behavior. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.08.03.551880

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