Neural circuits underlying context-dependent competition between defensive actions in Drosophila larvae

Maxime Lehman, Chloé Barré, Md Amit Hasan, Benjamin Flament, Sandra Autran, Neena Dhiman, Peter Soba, Jean-Baptiste Masson and Tihana Jovanic ()
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Maxime Lehman: Institut des neurosciences Paris-Saclay
Chloé Barré: Decision and Bayesian Computation
Md Amit Hasan: Institut des neurosciences Paris-Saclay
Benjamin Flament: Institut des neurosciences Paris-Saclay
Sandra Autran: Institut des neurosciences Paris-Saclay
Neena Dhiman: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Peter Soba: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Jean-Baptiste Masson: Decision and Bayesian Computation
Tihana Jovanic: Institut des neurosciences Paris-Saclay

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-21

Abstract: Abstract To ensure their survival, animals must be able to respond adaptively to threats within their environment. However, the precise neural circuit mechanisms that underlie flexible defensive behaviors remain poorly understood. Using neuronal manipulations, machine learning-based behavioral detection, electron microscopy (EM) connectomics and calcium imaging in Drosophila larvae, we map second-order interneurons that are differentially involved in the competition between defensive actions in response to competing aversive cues. We find that mechanosensory stimulation inhibits escape behaviors in favor of startle behaviors by influencing the activity of escape-promoting second-order interneurons. Stronger activation of those neurons inhibits startle-like behaviors. This suggests that competition between startle and escape behaviors occurs at the level of second-order interneurons. Finally, we identify a pair of descending neurons that promote startle behaviors and could modulate the escape sequence. Taken together, these results characterize the pathways involved in startle and escape competition, which is modulated by the sensory context.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56185-2

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