Behavioral plasticity in aDrosophila mutant,dunce DE276

Summary Drosophila X-linked mutantdunce ^DB276 fails to display learning in an olfactory learning paradigm, in spite of being able to sense odorants and shock (Byers, 1977; Fig. 1). However, conditions exist under which the flies display associative behavior (Table 1, Figs. 3, 5). Memory appears to be short-lived (Table 1, Figs. 3, 5) and labile (Figs. 3, 4). It is suggested that thedunce ^DB276 mutation affects an early memory phase.I thank G. Bicker, D. Byers and W.G. Quinn for valuable comments. This work was supported by a grant from the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation, Jerusalem. The author is incumbent of the Barecha Foundation Career Development Chair.