DATE2022.09.08 #Press Releases

Aggression de-escalation gene identified in fruit flies

The gene, called nervy, prepares the nervous system to respond to socio-environmental signals to stop fighting

Overview of the press release

LA JOLLA—The brain mechanisms that cause aggressive behavior have been well studied. Far less understood are the processes that tell the body when it’s time to stop fighting. Now, a new study by Salk scientists identifies a gene and a group of cells in the brain that play a critical role in suppressing aggression in fruit flies.

The findings, published in Science Advances on September 7, 2022, have implications for disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, which can sometimes cause behavioral changes like increased aggression and combativeness.

Image : A gene and group of cells that prevent escalated aggression in the brains of fruit flies. Credit : Salk Institute.

The first author, Assistant Professor Kenichi Ishii (Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo) have contributed to this research.

To read the full press release, please visit the website of Salk Institute.

Publication details

Journal	Science Advances
Title	A neurogenetic mechanism of experience-dependent suppression of aggression