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In Drosophila, negatively reinforcing dopaminergic neurons also provide the inhibitory control of satiety over appetitive memory expression. Here we show that aversive learning causes a persistent depression of the conditioned odor drive to two downstream feed-forward inhibitory GABAergic interneurons of the mushroom body, called MVP2, or mushroom body output neuron (MBON)-γ1pedc>α/β. However, MVP2 neuron output is only essential for expression of short-term aversive memory. Stimulating MVP2 neurons preferentially inhibits the odor-evoked activity of avoidance-directing MBONs and odor-driven avoidance behavior, whereas their inhibition enhances odor avoidance. In contrast, odor-evoked activity of MVP2 neurons is elevated in hungry flies, and their feed-forward inhibition is required for expression of appetitive memory at all times. Moreover, imposing MVP2 activity promotes inappropriate appetitive memory expression in food-satiated flies. Aversive learning and appetitive motivation therefore toggle alternate modes of a common feed-forward inhibitory MVP2 pathway to promote conditioned odor avoidance or approach.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.neuron.2016.04.034

Type

Journal article

Journal

Neuron

Publication Date

01/06/2016

Volume

90

Pages

1086 - 1099

Keywords

Animals, Appetitive Behavior, Avoidance Learning, Conditioning, Classical, Drosophila melanogaster, Eating, GABAergic Neurons, Interneurons, Memory, Short-Term, Motivation, Mushroom Bodies, Neural Inhibition, Odorants