Dickson Group
Barry Dickson (Senior Scientist)
Neural circuits
We use molecular genetic techniques to study the function of neural circuits in Drosophila. Our goal is to understand how information processing in defined neural circuits generates complex animal behaviours. As a model system, we focus on the fly’s mating behaviours. These behaviours are robust, adaptive, and particularly amenable to genetic analysis.
Selected Publications
- Keleman, K., Vrontou, E., Krüttner, S., Yu, JY., Kurtovic-Kozaric, A., Dickson, BJ. (2012). Dopamine neurons modulate pheromone responses in Drosophila courtship learning. Nature. 489(7414):145-9 (abstract)
- Toda, H., Zhao, X., Dickson, BJ. (2012). The Drosophila female aphrodisiac pheromone activates ppk23(+) sensory neurons to elicit male courtship behavior. Cell Rep. 1(6):599-607 (abstract)
- von Philipsborn, AC., Liu, T., Yu, JY., Masser, C., Bidaye, SS., Dickson, BJ. (2011). Neuronal control of Drosophila courtship song. Neuron. 69(3):509-22 (abstract)
- Spitzweck, B., Brankatschk, M., Dickson, BJ. (2010). Distinct protein domains and expression patterns confer divergent axon guidance functions for Drosophila Robo receptors. Cell. 140(3):409-20 (abstract)
- Yu, JY., Kanai, MI., Demir, E., Jefferis, GS., Dickson, BJ. (2010). Cellular organization of the neural circuit that drives Drosophila courtship behavior. Curr Biol. 20(18):1602-14 (abstract)
