Impaired judgment in fruit flies due to love
During the amorous pursuits of female fruit flies, male fruit flies, as revealed by a study published in "Nature", turn a blind eye to the world around them. They seemingly disregard potential threats such as predators, thanks to the influence of a specific neurotransmitter.
The phrase "love is blind" might take on a more tangible meaning in fruit flies, according to this study led by the University of Birmingham, with contributions from researchers at the Free University of Berlin and Charité University Medicine.
By employing a specialized microscopy technique, the research team examined which brain neurons were active during courtship in the fruit fly (Drosophila). They then simulated a threat using light and shadow, mimicking the presence of a predator.
Initially, this artificial threat activated certain visual neurons linked to neurons controlled by the neurotransmitter serotonin. Consequently, the flies ceased their courtship and fled. As courtship progressed, the neurotransmitter dopamine increased, causing important sensory pathways to become inactive, thereby reducing the fly's response to threats and enabling it to concentrate on mating, explains neuroscientist Laurie Cazale-Debat.
Ignoring perils due to happiness hormone
In essence, during advanced stages of courtship or mating, fruit flies disregard potential hazards and take risks under the sway of the neurotransmitter dopamine. The research team demonstrated the intricate decision-making process that takes place in the fly's brain when weighing chances and risks, a process mirroring our daily decisions, as per lead researcher Carolina Rezaval.
Fruit flies make the choice between courtship and fleeing from potential threats. "Dopamine plays a pivotal role in this decision-making process, but dopamine levels are reliant on the proximity of the goal," explains Rezaval. Dopamine signaling affects perception based on goal proximity, allowing for the prioritization of competing behaviors, as stated in the study.
Humans exhibit similar motivation, adds Lisa Scheunemann from the Free University of Berlin: "Think about climbing a mountain, and you're almost at the summit. If the weather takes a turn for the worse and conditions become hazardous, you might overlook the danger due to your eagerness to achieve your goal."
Even in fruit flies, the pursuit of a desirable reward - here, a female fly - leads to the disregard of danger. The study showed that dopamine levels surge as courtship advances and functions as a sensory filter, filtering out distractions and allowing the animal to concentrate on the forthcoming task as it nears its goal, sums up Rezaval: "We are eager to explore whether this decision-making mechanism is a universal feature, prevalent not just in fruit flies but also in mammals, including humans."
Other animals, such as humans, might also ignore potential dangers due to the influence of the happiness hormone dopamine, as a study on fruit flies suggests. As the proximity of a desired reward increases, dopamine signaling affects perception and allows for the prioritization of competing behaviors, potentially leading to the disregard of danger.
During courtship, fruit flies and possibly other animals disregard potential hazards under the influence of dopamine, filtering out distractions to focus on the forthcoming task as it nears its goal. This decision-making mechanism, influenced by dopamine, could be a universal feature, prevalent not just in fruit flies but also in mammals, including humans.
