Cracking the Code of Social Interactions
New research challenges the belief that fruit flies rely solely on chemical receptors for social interactions, revealing that their visual system also plays a crucial role. By manipulating the visual feedback neurons in male fruit flies, scientists found that their social inhibitions were altered, leading to courtship between males. This discovery sheds light on the potential origins of differences in human social behaviors, including those seen in individuals with bipolar disorder and autism. Genes similar to those controlling fruit fly visual neurons are found in the human brain, offering insights into the regulation of social behaviors and psychiatric conditions.