Enhanced competence in the negotiation of a T maze by Drosophila melanogaster in response to a possible food reward

Abstract

Starved Drosophila melanogaster were run individually in a T maze in which sucrose was provided as a reward. After three trials, flies were run similarly for a fourth trial in a clean maze lacking sucrose. The time in which the food area was located in the fourth trial compared with the first was significantly decreased. Control experiments rule out the possibility that smell. pheromones, or increased energy levels associated with the ingestion of sucrose are the basis of the highly significant differences. A likely alternative is that the flies to some degree learn the location of the food area.