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Review
. 2024 Jan:156:105504.
doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105504. Epub 2023 Dec 6.

Lessons from lonely flies: Molecular and neuronal mechanisms underlying social isolation

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Free article
Review

Lessons from lonely flies: Molecular and neuronal mechanisms underlying social isolation

R Sai Prathap Yadav et al. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2024 Jan.
Free article

Abstract

Animals respond to changes in the environment which affect their internal state by adapting their behaviors. Social isolation is a form of passive environmental stressor that alters behaviors across animal kingdom, including humans, rodents, and fruit flies. Social isolation is known to increase violence, disrupt sleep and increase depression leading to poor mental and physical health. Recent evidences from several model organisms suggest that social isolation leads to remodeling of the transcriptional and epigenetic landscape which alters behavioral outcomes. In this review, we explore how manipulating social experience of fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster can shed light on molecular and neuronal mechanisms underlying isolation driven behaviors. We discuss the recent advances made using the powerful genetic toolkit and behavioral assays in Drosophila to uncover role of neuromodulators, sensory modalities, pheromones, neuronal circuits and molecular mechanisms in mediating social isolation. The insights gained from these studies could be crucial for developing effective therapeutic interventions in future.

Keywords: Aggression; Courtship; Drosophila melanogaster; Neuromodulators; Sleep; Social isolation; Stress.

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