Universität zu Köln

Steymans, Isabelle, Pujol-Lereis, Luciana M., Brembs, Bjorn and Axel Gorostiza, E. (2021). Collective action or individual choice: Spontaneity and individuality contribute to decision-making in Drosophila. PLoS One, 16 (8). SAN FRANCISCO: PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE. ISSN 1932-6203

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Abstract

Our own unique character traits make our behavior consistent and define our individuality. Yet, this consistency does not entail that we behave repetitively like machines. Like humans, animals also combine personality traits with spontaneity to produce adaptive behavior: consistent, but not fully predictable. Here, we study an iconically rigid behavioral trait, insect phototaxis, that nevertheless also contains both components of individuality and spontaneity. In a light/dark T-maze, approximately 70% of a group of Drosophila fruit flies choose the bright arm of the T-Maze, while the remaining 30% walk into the dark. Taking the photopositive and the photonegative subgroups and re-testing them reveals the spontaneous component: a similar 70-30 distribution emerges in each of the two subgroups. Increasing the number of choices to ten choices, reveals the individuality component: flies with an extremely negative series of first choices were more likely to show photonegative behavior in subsequent choices and vice versa. General behavioral traits, independent of light/dark preference, contributed to the development of this individuality. The interaction of individuality and spontaneity together explains why group averages, even for such seemingly stereotypical behaviors, are poor predictors of individual choices.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Steymans, Isabelle UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Pujol-Lereis, Luciana M. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Brembs, Bjorn UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Axel Gorostiza, E. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-588424
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pone.0256560
Journal or Publication Title:	PLoS One
Volume:	16
Number:	8
Date:	2021
Publisher:	PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
Place of Publication:	SAN FRANCISCO
ISSN:	1932-6203
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language ANCIENT ESCAPE CIRCUIT; AVIAN PREDATOR; VARIABILITY; PERSONALITY; BEHAVIOR; EXPLOITATION; SENSITIVITY; EVOLUTION; NETWORK; BRAIN Multiple languages Multidisciplinary Sciences Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/58842