Nature and nurture in fruit fly hearing.

Abstract

As for human language learning and birdsong acquisition, fruit flies adjust their auditory perception based on past sound experiences. This phenomenon is known as song preference learning in flies. Recent advancements in omics databases, such as the single-cell transcriptome and brain connectomes, have been integrated into traditional molecular genetics, making the fruit fly an outstanding model for studying the neural basis of "Nature and Nurture" in auditory perception and behaviors. This minireview aims to provide an overview of song preference in flies, including the nature of the phenomenon and its underlying neural mechanisms. Specifically, we focus on the neural circuitry involved in song preference learning, with which auditory experiences shape the song preference of flies. This shaping process depends on an integration hub that processes external sensory stimuli and internal states to enable flexible control of behavior. We also briefly review recent findings on the signals that feed into this integration hub, modulating song preference of flies in an experience-dependent manner.