Name: Behavioral Analysis of Locomotor Dysfunction in Drosophila melanogaster as a Readout for Neurotoxicity (Video) | JoVE Journal
Uploaded: 2025-07-18T13:50:00.000+00:00
Duration: 7 min 3 s
Description: Learn a high-throughput climbing assay for neurotoxicity screening using Drosophila melanogaster. This method enables early detection of locomotor dysfunction through real-time behavioral monitoring.

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5 minutes

This research was funded by the EEA Grants project MOD.PN.FRM.059.PT.V03 &#8211; Physalia physalis: An Innovative and Unexploited Source of High Added-Value Cosmetic Products; by the &#8220;Pacto da Bioeconomia Azul&#8221; (Project No. C644915664-00000026) within WP5 &#8211; Algae Vertical, funded by the Next Generation EU European Fund and the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR); and by Funda&#231;&#227;o para a Ci&#234;ncia e a Tecnologia (FCT) through CBA (UIDB/05292/2020 and UIDP/05292/2020).

As an example, this protocol was used to evaluate the neurotoxic potential of the Physalis physalis venom fraction. The control group received only the physiological buffer and sucrose solution without the test compound. All the experiments were performed on the W118 strain. Ethical clearance is not required for experiments with Drosophila, as they are not covered by animal care regulations.
1. Reagents and sample preparation
<ol>
	<li>Prepare a biological buffer such as PBS (10 mM, pH 7.0) or HEPES (10 mM, pH 7.0), depending on the requirements of the specific assay, and a 10 M stock solution of sucrose. Calculate the sample volume based on the number of replicates and the duration of the experiment.</li>
	<li>Dilute the sample to the desired concentration using a biological buffer, supplemented with sucrose solution up to a final concentration of 1 M. If the sample is transparent, you can add appropriate food dye (e.g., 0.1 mg/mL blue or red dye) to assess feeding behavior visually. In the present study, the venom fraction of Physalia physalis was diluted using PBS to a final concentration of 10 &#181;g/&#181;L and further supplemented with sucrose solution and food dye.</li>
	<li>Prepare a negative control solution containing only the buffer and supplement the solution with sucrose to a final concentration of 1 M, and food dye. In the present study, PBS supplemented with sucrose and food dye was used as a negative control solution.</li>
	<li>For the fruit fly media, follow the protocol provided in18.</li>
</ol>
2. Biological material maintenance
<ol>
	<li>Transfer healthy, sexually mature adult flies into a bottle containing freshly prepared food medium. To proceed, tap the flies to the bottom of the bottle, open it, and transfer them by bottle inversion into a new bottle containing fly medium. Place the bottle in an incubator set to 25&#8239;&#176;C with a 12 h light/dark cycle and 50% humidity. Allow the flies to lay eggs overnight (approximately 16-22 h) to collect sufficient synchronized eggs.</li>
	<li>After the egg-laying, use a new bottle containing 70% ethanol to discard the adult flies. This prevents additional egg-laying and ensures synchronization in age, which is crucial to obtain a cohort of adults with minimal age variation.</li>
	<li>To support uniform development, maintain the bottles under the same controlled conditions (25&#8239;&#176;C, 12 h light/dark cycle, 50% humidity). Adults begin to emerge around day 9 or 10. Monitoring the developmental progress can help anticipate the timing of adult emergence.</li>
	<li>Maintain the collected flies under the same controlled conditions until they reach the desired age for the assay. Use them within 24-48 h post-emergence. This controlled aging process ensures minimizing variability and enhancing the reliability of experimental results.</li>
</ol>
3. Negative geotaxis assay
NOTE: A schematic representation of the negative geotaxis assay is presented in Supplementary Figure 1.
<ol>
	<li>On the day of the experiment, gently transfer the flies to an empty bottle.</li>
	<li>Flies need to be briefly anesthetized on ice prior to the transfer to minimize movement and handling stress. For this purpose, place the bottle containing the flies inside a box of ice, covering the whole bottle.</li>
	<li>After 1 min, gently tap the bottle to verify that all flies are anesthetized. Maintain them on ice for 1 min more to ensure complete anesthesia without inducing stress or affecting their climbing ability. 
	NOTE: Be aware that certain anesthetics, such as CO2, can affect subsequent behaviors, including impaired climbing behavior, and affect the results of the negative geotaxis assay.</li>
	<li>While the flies are anesthetized, prepare a smaller container filled with ice and place a Petri dish or a flat, clean surface on top of the ice to create a chilled platform. This setup helps maintain anesthesia during sorting and minimizes fly movement upon recovery.</li>
	<li>Assess anesthesia by confirming the complete immobilization of the flies after 2 min on ice. Once fully anesthetized, gently transfer flies by inverting the tube over a chilled Petri dish and gently tapping them to release them. The cold surface will help to keep the flies immobilized during handling.</li>
	<li>Using a fine paintbrush and under a stereomicroscope (at 10x and 20x magnification, if available), gently separate male and female flies based on distinguishing characteristics, such as size and pigmentation patterns. Males are generally smaller with broad black bands, while females are larger with lighter, elongated abdomens. Perform this step as fast as possible to minimize the effect of anesthesia on flies. 
	NOTE: If sex differentiation is unnecessary for the experiment, omit the segregation step. Minimize exposure time and handle the flies gently to reduce stress and potential behavioral alterations.</li>
	<li>Carefully transfer the sorted flies into empty vials with appropriate assignation. Allow them to recover from anesthesia for approximately 30 min in a controlled environment (25&#8239;&#176;C, 12 h/12 h light/dark cycle, 50% humidity) before proceeding with the assay.</li>
	<li>For microcapillary feed preparation, use a pipette to manually load 10&#8239;&#181;L of the test solution into each microcapillary tube. Ensure the volume is consistent across all samples to standardize feeding conditions.</li>
	<li>Using a pipette, add 3-5 &#181;L of mineral oil to the open end of the microcapillary. This prevents the sample from evaporating and leaking during the experiment.</li>
	<li>Insert the pre-filled microcapillaries through holes in the cotton vial plugs, ensuring they are securely placed. If necessary, use previously cut tips to fit the cotton tightly without obstructing airflow.</li>
	<li>Place the vials containing the flies into an incubator set to 25&#8239;&#176;C with a 12 h/12 h light/dark cycle. Leave them for the duration of the experiment and manually replace the microcapillaries with freshly prepared food daily to ensure consistent exposure. The exposure period depends on the toxicity and nature of the sample and typically extends between 2 and 7 days.</li>
	<li>At 12 h intervals, transfer the flies to a clean, empty vial to assess locomotor activity.</li>
	<li>Measure and mark a line 7&#8239;cm from the bottom of the vial using a permanent marker. This height will serve as the climbing target.</li>
	<li>Position a camera or phone in a stable location to record the climbing behavior. Ensure adequate lighting and a transparent background for analysis. Confirm that the experimental setup is compatible with the camera&#39;s field of view.</li>
	<li>Tap the vial gently to bring the flies to the bottom, then immediately begin recording. Avoid excessive force that could injure or disorient the flies.</li>
	<li>Review the recordings and measure the time it takes for each fly to reach the marked 7&#8239;cm line. Set a maximum time limit (e.g., 30 s); assign this time to any fly that fails to reach the line.</li>
	<li>Pay close attention to any abnormal behaviors, such as uncoordinated movement, delayed initiation of climbing, or irregular climbing patterns. These signs may indicate the neurotoxic effects of the tested compound. 
	NOTE: For detailed instructions on feed preparation, please refer to the Capillary Feeder (CAFE) Assay protocol19. This method provides precise guidelines for preparing liquid food sources for fruit flies, ensuring accurate quantification of food intake and minimizing variability in feeding experiments.</li>
</ol>
4. Real-time monitoring assays
NOTE: For the setup, including the schematic representation of the tracking system components and the calibration protocol, please follow earlier publications11,12. A general overview of the experiments is presented in Supplementary Figure 2.
<ol>
	<li>Real-time locomotion assay (Tracking assay)
	<ol>
		<li>Repeat steps 3.8-3.9 to prepare the feeding microcapillaries with the sample and mineral oil seal.</li>
		<li>Prepare individual locomotion chambers using clear plastic straws, each approximately 6&#8239;cm long. These straws serve as cost-effective and transparent enclosures suitable for recordings. The tubes should be compatible with the sleep arena11, which accommodates 20 tubes for high-throughput behavioral studies.</li>
		<li>Seal one end of each straw with a transparent film, ensuring an airtight closure. Near the sealed end, create a small hole to accommodate the insertion of the feeding microcapillary. Ensure the hole is large enough to securely hold the microcapillary without causing leaks or movement during the assay.</li>
		<li>Repeat steps 3.1-3.6 to anesthetize, optionally segregate, and gently place one anesthetized fly into each tube using a fine paintbrush. Seal the open end of each tube with transparent film or a cotton plug, ensuring airflow and fly containment.</li>
		<li>Place the assembled tubes into the arena, ensuring each microcapillary remains accessible outside for daily replacement. Insert a pre-filled microcapillary into each tube. Allow flies to recover and acclimate for approximately 30 min before starting the assay.</li>
		<li>Place the device in a chamber with controlled environmental conditions (e.g., 25&#8239;&#176;C, 12 h/12 h light/dark cycle, 50% humidity). Connect the device to the network or local tracking system.</li>
		<li>Access the platform and locate the device assigned to the experiment. Ensure that the system accurately tracks each fly, as indicated by the markers. Enter all relevant experimental metadata and begin recording the assay. For advanced data analysis, use the rethomics framework, an R package designed for high-throughput behavioral data analysis11,12.</li>
		<li>Replace food in the microcapillaries daily with freshly prepared solutions. Visually inspect each fly daily to ensure survival and proper behavior throughout the experimental period that typically extends between 3 and 5 days.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Circadian rhythm assessment
	<ol>
		<li>To investigate the circadian rhythm of flies and their potential alterations, ensure that the experiment begins synchronized with a defined light/dark cycle. Maintain a 12 h light/12 h dark photoperiod throughout the recording phase to avoid disruptions to endogenous rhythms. Once conditions are set, repeat steps 4.1.1-4.1.8, ensuring that all procedures are performed consistently across the light/dark phases.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Assessment of Light/Dark Preference Behavior
	<ol>
		<li>Repeat steps 3.1-3.11 to prepare flies and feeding microcapillaries.</li>
		<li>Once feeding vials are prepared, place them in the incubator to allow flies to feed on the test sample for 2 h (or another duration as determined by prior locomotor activity data).</li>
		<li>To assess light preference behavior, prepare individual locomotion chambers covering 50% of each tube with aluminum foil to create a defined dark area. Ensure consistent coverage across all tubes to allow for standardized comparison.</li>
		<li>Repeat steps 4.1.2-4.1.4 to transfer flies individually into locomotion chambers, omitting the insertion of microcapillaries.</li>
		<li>Place the prepared tubes into the arena and allow flies to acclimate for approximately 30 min.</li>
		<li>Repeat steps 4.1.6-4.1.7 and record the flies&#39; behavior for 60 min. Tubes in which reduced movement is recorded may indicate a dark preference, as the tracking system does not detect the flies located in the foil-covered region to signal obstruction.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
5. Data analysis
<ol>
	<li>Prepare the metadata template by including all necessary information such as ID, treatment, compound details, assay duration, and other relevant variables. A template example and the corresponding data processing pipeline are included in Supplementary Table 1.</li>
	<li>Save the completed metadata file in CSV format. To ensure compatibility, open the CSV file in a text editor to verify that it does not contain unnecessary characters or formatting issues. Remove any extraneous characters if present.</li>
	<li>Before proceeding with data analysis, create a backup of the data. Open a terminal and execute the following command: sudo python backup_tool.py. This step safeguards the data against potential loss or corruption during analysis.</li>
	<li>Identify and note the location of the data files corresponding to the experiment. Ensure that these files are accessible for analysis.</li>
	<li>Analyze data using Rethomics. Open RStudio and load the necessary Rethomics packages for behavioral data analysis. Detailed instructions and tutorials are available at the Rethomics website:&#160;https://rethomics.github.io/scopr.html</li>
</ol>

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Author Zuzanna Tomkielska was employed by Mesosystem S.A., and author Ana Casas is also affiliated with Mesosystem S.A. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Primarily, establishing a non-lethal (sublethal) dose is a critical initial step for conducting the neurotoxicity experiments. This ensures that the flies remain viable throughout the study, allowing for the observation of behavioral and locomotor effects without the confounding factor of mortality. In our study, the sublethal dose of the Physalia physalis venom fraction was determined to be 10 &#181;g/&#181;L. To ensure robust and reproducible results, a minimum of three biological replicates per treatment grou...

The assessment of neurotoxicity is critical for evaluating the potential adverse effects of environmental and pharmaceutical compounds on the developing nervous system1. Traditional neurotoxicity testing relies on mammalian models, such as rodents, which are expensive, time-consuming, and ethically constrained2. Consequently, alternative models that enable rapid, high-throughput screening of neurotoxicants are necessary3. Studies highlight that the fruit fly has emerged as a powerful model organism for studying neurotoxicity due to its well-characterized genetics, conserved neurodevelopmental pathways, and a short life cycle4,5. Among behavioral endpoints, motor dysfunction serves as a sensitive and quantifiable biomarker of neurodevelopmental impairment, allowing for the early detection of neurotoxic effects that may correlate with human neurological disorders6.
Locomotor assays in flies&#160;provide a quantifiable measure of neurotoxicity and enable dose-response assessments, making them relevant for human neurotoxicity risk reduction7. The negative geotaxis assay (climbing) is a widely used approach in which flies instinctively climb after being tapped to the bottom of a vial, which reflects their level of motor development, coordination, and balance8,9. While this method is simple, cost-effective, and useful for assessing severe locomotor abnormalities and overt disturbances, it only provides a one-dimensional evaluation of movement and may lack sensitivity in detecting subtle motor impairments, refined alterations, and long-term behavioral monitoring of symptoms induced by neurotoxicants8. To address these limitations, more advanced motion-tracking technologies, such as the Ethoscope system, have been developed10. This automated recording system is a high-throughput video-tracking device specifically designed to analyze flies&#39; behavior with high precision and reproducibility11. Unlike conventional locomotor assays, this system provides continuous, real-time monitoring of movement, capturing subtle behavioral abnormalities that traditional climbing assays may overlook11,12,13. The technology features automated video-tracking using an infrared-illuminated camera system that continuously records fly movements at high resolution, eliminating observer bias and improving experimental reproducibility13. Additionally, it detects micromovements, differentiating walking, resting, and fine movements such as grooming, feeding, or twitching, providing a more detailed analysis of motor behavior13. Long-term behavioral monitoring is possible, allowing for continuous tracking over extended periods, making it ideal for assessing progressive neurotoxic effects10. The scalability and high-throughput capacity of the video recording system enable parallel tracking of multiple flies, facilitating the screening of multiple neurotoxic compounds and genetic conditions simultaneously10. Furthermore, the system integrates open-source software, allowing researchers to customize analysis pipelines based on experimental needs, including sleep-wake cycles, circadian rhythms, and detailed locomotor metrics10,14. Recent advancements, such as the integration of Ethoscopy, a Python-based framework, have enhanced data analysis, improving accessibility and reproducibility in behavioral studies14. This framework allows researchers to perform more complex locomotion analyses while reducing barriers for non-expert users. The ethoscope-lab, a Jupyter-based environment, further facilitates seamless data processing, promoting collaborative research and ensuring experimental reproducibility14.
By leveraging the high-throughput video-tracking platform alongside traditional climbing assays, this study provides a comprehensive and sensitive assessment of motor dysfunction following developmental neurotoxicant exposure. The ability to analyze fine-scale locomotor defects makes it a powerful tool for screening compounds that disrupt neural development and motor coordination. The use of fruit flies for neurotoxicity screening offers several advantages, including cost-effectiveness and high-throughput capability, compared to vertebrate models, where large-scale screenings are often limited due to cost constraints15. The fly model allows rapid genetic manipulations to mimic disease states and identify molecular pathways affected by neurotoxins16. While simpler than mammalian nervous systems, flies retain key conserved pathways involved in neural development and motor control17. High-resolution tracking methods such as the real-time video recorder system enhance data accuracy and reproducibility, allowing for early-stage detection of motor deficits caused by toxicant exposure11.
The integration of tracking technology and traditional climbing assays allowed for continuous, high-resolution behavioral monitoring, providing a robust and scalable method to detect subtle locomotor impairments induced by neurotoxicant exposure. The combination of genetic tools, a short life cycle, and advanced behavioral analysis positions the fruit fly as a powerful alternative to vertebrate models for neurotoxicity screening, ultimately contributing to safer drug development and improved environmental risk assessments.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Aluminium foil&amp;nbsp;</td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Blue dye&amp;nbsp;</td><td>&amp;nbsp;RAYNER</td><td>-</td><td>Rayners blue dye 28ml</td></tr><tr><td>Camera Module 2 NoIR</td><td>Raspberry Pi&amp;nbsp;</td><td>096-4062</td><td>Supplied on Mauser.pt</td></tr><tr><td>Cotton roving</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>BR28205</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Drosophila Stock Bottles</td><td>VWR</td><td>VWRI734-1249</td><td>Bottle Fly Round 60Z</td></tr><tr><td>Drosophila Vials</td><td>VWR</td><td>WRI734-2255</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Glass Petri dish</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>BR455701</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Micro haematocrit capillary</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>BR749321</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>MicroSD card</td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td>Producent recommend using an SD card with at least 32GB of storage for Raspberry Pi OS installations</td></tr><tr><td>Micro-USB power supply</td><td>Raspberry Pi&amp;nbsp;</td><td>096-4585</td><td>Supplied on Mauser.pt</td></tr><tr><td>Mineral Oil&amp;nbsp;</td><td>BIO-RAD</td><td>#1632129</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Paint brush</td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Phosphate buffered saliine (PBS)</td><td>components sourced from various companies</td><td>-</td><td>Buffer used to prepare food for the control group and used for sample dillution; 10 mM pH 7</td></tr><tr><td>Plugs for Drosophila Vials and Bottles</td><td>VWR</td><td>VWRI734-2875</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Plugs for Drosophila Vials and Bottles</td><td>VWR</td><td>VWRI734-2673</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Sealing Film</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>HS234526C</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Single-board computer&amp;nbsp; (3 Model B)</td><td>Raspberry Pi&amp;nbsp;</td><td>096-5700</td><td>Supplied on Mauser.pt</td></tr><tr><td>Succrose</td><td>Sigma-Aldrich</td><td>S9378</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Transparent plastic straw</td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td>Any that is compatible with Ethoscopic sleep arena (6,5 cm x 0,5 cm)</td></tr></tbody></table>

behavioral analysis of locomotor dysfunction in drosophila melanogaster as a readout for neurotoxicity

Behavioral Analysis of Locomotor Dysfunction in Drosophila melanogaster as a Readout for Neurotoxicity

This protocol presents a high-throughput, cost-effective method for assessing neurotoxicity in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) by quantifying locomotor dysfunction. Traditional mammalian models, while effective, are resource-intensive and ethically constrained, highlighting the need for alternative in vivo models. The present approach integrates the classic climbing assay with real-time monitoring platform to capture motor impairments in individual flies. This combined system enhances sensitivity, automation, and reproducibility, providing a scalable strategy for neurotoxicological screening. Critical procedural steps include standardized rearing conditions, careful anesthesia and handling to minimize fly mortality or behavioral alterations, and proper calibration of the system. Microcapillary-based feeding enables the optional integration of ingestion quantification, complementing the locomotor analysis and allowing the evaluation of compound intake when required. The method supports real-time and long-term behavioral monitoring, reduces observer bias, and enables daily progress evaluation without interrupting the experiment. Light preference testing can be incorporated using direct measurements. The platform provides significant advantages in behavioral resolution, throughput, and data consistency. Although it lacks real-time fluorescence capabilities found in some alternative systems, it remains highly effective for large-scale behavioral screening. This protocol is particularly valuable for laboratories aiming to assess the neurotoxic effects of pharmaceutical compounds, environmental agents, or genetic modifications using a sensitive, reproducible, and ethically favorable in vivo model.

As an example, this protocol was used to evaluate the neurotoxic potential of the Physalis physalis venom fraction. The treated group consisted of flies fed on a physiological buffer supplemented with sucrose solution (up to a final concentration of 1 M) and the test venom fraction. The control group received only the physiological buffer and sucrose solution without the test compound. All the experiments were performed on the W118 strain.
In the described method, untreated...

The protocol presents a high-throughput, cost-effective method for assessing neurotoxicity in the fruit fly through the quantification of locomotor dysfunction as an alternative to traditional mammalian models. It aims to evaluate the neurotoxic effects of pharmaceutical compounds, environmental agents, or genetic modifications using a sensitive, reproducible, and ethically favorable model.

This protocol presents a high-throughput, cost-effective method for assessing neurotoxicity in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) by quantifying ...

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Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Behavior assays for measuring locomotor functions, learning, and memory abilities in Drosophila.

Assaying Locomotor, Learning, and Memory Deficits in Drosophila Models of Neurodegeneration

Drosophila melanogaster is a genetically and behaviorally tractable model system that has been used to understand the molecular and cellular basis of many important biological processes for over a century 1. Drosophila has been well exploited to gain insights into the genetic basis of fly behavior.

Methods to Assay Drosophila Behavior

Here we describe two assays that have been established to study age-dependent neurodegeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in Drosophila: the climbing/startle-induced negative geotaxis assay which allows to study the functional effects of DA neurons degeneration and the tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining which is used to identify and count DA neurons in whole brain mounts.

Assessing Neurodegenerative Phenotypes in Drosophila Dopaminergic Neurons by Climbing Assays and Whole Brain Immunostaining

The feeding circuit in Drosophila melanogaster larvae serves a simple yet powerful model that allows changes in feeding rate to be correlated with alterations in the stomatogastric neural circuitry. This circuit is composed of central serotonergic neurons that send projections to the mouth hooks as well as the foregut.

Functional Analysis of the Larval Feeding Circuit in Drosophila

Drosophila melanogaster are useful in studying genetic or environmental manipulations that affect behaviors such as spontaneous locomotor activity.  Here we describe a protocol that utilizes monitors with infrared beams and data analysis software to quantify spontaneous locomotor...

Determination of the Spontaneous Locomotor Activity in Drosophila melanogaster

Using a webcam and a combination of free and inexpensive software programs, locomotive patterns in Drosophila melanogaster can be analyzed to detect differences in the speed, distance, and time of various motor activities.

A Low-cost Method for Analyzing Seizure-like Activity and Movement in Drosophila

Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that results from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the central nervous system, causing locomotion defects. Rotenone models Parkinson’s disease in Drosophila. This paper outlines two assays that characterize both spontaneous and startle-induced locomotion deficiencies caused by rotenone.

Methods to Characterize Spontaneous and Startle-induced Locomotion in a Rotenone-induced Parkinson's Disease Model of Drosophila

Here we describe a simple and widely accessible microscopy technique to acquire high-quality digital video of Drosophila adult and larval mutant phenotypes from a lateral perspective.

Acquisition of High-Quality Digital Video of Drosophila Larval and Adult Behaviors from a Lateral Perspective

We present an optimized inexpensive and reliable negative geotaxis assay in Drosophila melanogaster as a model for neurodegenerative disorders. Being more sensitive to mild locomotor defects, this assay will help screen for potential genetic interactions and drug targets.

Quantitative Analysis of Climbing Defects in a Drosophila Model of Neurodegenerative Disorders

This step-by-step protocol analyzes Drosophila negative geotaxis behavior using an automated multi-cylinder system that hosts hundreds of flies and synchronizes their action by an electric motor. Upon synchronization, fly negative geotaxis behavior is assayed, digitally recorded, and analyzed using the self-designed RflyDetection software.

An Automated Rapid Iterative Negative Geotaxis Assay for Analyzing Adult Climbing Behavior in a Drosophila Model of Neurodegeneration

The present protocol assesses the locomotor activity of Drosophila by tracking and analyzing the movement of flies in a hand-made arena using open-source software Fiji, compatible with plugins to segment pixels of each frame based on high-definition video recording to calculate parameters of speed, distance, etc.

A Simple Technique to Assay Locomotor Activity in Drosophila

Learn a high-throughput climbing assay for neurotoxicity screening using Drosophila melanogaster. This method enables early detection of locomotor dysfunction through real-time behavioral monitoring.

Behavioral Analysis of Locomotor Dysfunction in Drosophila melanogaster as a Readout for Neurotoxicity

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