| Abstract: | Using the flight simulator system, the operant conditioned visual flight orientation behavior in Drosophila was studied. It was demonstrated that the visual learning performance is associated with age; flies learn more reliably at 3-4 days than at 1-2 days of age; the cAMP level of brain is also increasing with age; the brain cAMP content of nonlearner flies of wild type is much higher than that of normal flies; the cAMP level of brain increased abnormally after being fed with caffeine, and the learning performance decreased. These results imply that a moderate range of cAMP level is necessary for the visual learning and memory process. Abnormally high or low level of cAMP causes defects of learning and memory ability. |
