How the brain of a fly may help explain human behaviour
Scientists at the University of Cambridge have mapped the entire neural network of a male fruit fly's brain, comparing it to a previously mapped female brain. The research identifies specific neural differences that may explain behaviors like aggression and courtship.
Why it matters
While not directly applicable to human complexity, this mapping provides a foundational model for understanding how genetic wiring influences behavior and neurological conditions.
Image source, MRC Image caption, As beautiful as it is complex - a male fly's brain
Scientists have managed to compare the fine detail of the brains of male and female flies for the first time, identifying differences they say explain male aggression, courtship and their singing of love songs.
The scientists in Cambridge mapped all 124m connections of nerve cells in a male fly's brain, having done the same for a female fly two years ago.
The team are clear that the research won't explain differences between men and women because our behaviour is far more complex.
But the research could help scientists better understand human behaviour and conditions in which genetic differences affect brain wiring, such as autism and schizophrenia.
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