Descending Neuron for Freezing Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster

Freezing is a defensive behavior characterized by immobility, which makes detection by predators difficult. Flies show freezing behavior in response to visual stimulus like looming, which is relevant to the attack of predators. Brain control of freezing behavior is largely unknown. Here, I introduce the analysis of the neuronal mechanism, using a set of driver lines for a population of descending neurons, which is a bottleneck of the nervous system, connecting the brain and ventral nerve cord in Drosophila. A pair of descending neurons has been identified as a critical component for this behavior. I also discuss the connectivity of the neurons.