Mechanosensory and Visual Integration for Fly Takeoff and Flight

We set out to describe the mechanisms of sensory information processing as used for fly takeoff and flight. Specifically, we focused on the mechanosensory halteres, the reduced hindwings of flies that are essential for flight control. In Aim 1, we quantified the role of the halteres in takeoff and flight for multiple species. It was previously known that halteres are essential in all flies for stabilizing flight, and our work significantly expanded the known roles for halteres to include gravity perception and takeoff stabilization. In Aim 2, we demonstrated that haltere stimulation changes the firing rate of neurons in the central complex, showing for the first time that haltere sensory input reaches the brain. In Aim 3, we showed that simultaneous haltere and visual stimulation has specific effects on the firing rates of central complex neurons, suggesting mechanisms for multisensory integration for long-term behaviors. This project produced eleven peer-reviewed publications and thirteen published abstracts, and the PI gave thirteen invited presentations. Future work will focus on understanding sensory input to the brain in multiple behavioral contexts.