Systems neuroscience of memory and behaviour in Drosophila

Everyday, we process a large amount of information to make decisions, such as what to eat, where to go, or how to interact with others. Croset lab's research seeks to understand how the brain performs these tasks. For this, we use the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, which is an ideal system for uncovering fundamental principles of brain function. Despite their small brain, flies are capable of learning and remembering information, and adapt their behaviour to their nutritional and physiological needs.

Decades of research have produced powerful genetic tools that allow precise control and study of specific genes and neurons, with a resolution that cannot be achieved in any other organism. Using a combination of advanced behavioural, genetic, and neuronal imaging methods, we investigate how experience changes gene activity in specific neurons, and how this reshapes signalling within neuronal circuits. By connecting genes, neurons, and behaviour, we aim to better understand the fundamental mechanisms that govern brain function, and generate knowledge that can ultimately improve our understanding of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, addiction, or epilepsy.