Assessing the cognitive status of Drosophila by the value-based feeding decision

Chih-Chieh Yu; Ferng-Chang Chang; Yong-Huei Hong; Jian-Chiuan Li; Po-Lin Chen; Chun-Hong Chen; Tzai-Wen Chiu; Tsai-Te Lu; Yun-Ming Wang; Chih-Fei Kao

doi:10.1038/s41514-021-00075-6

Assessing the cognitive status of Drosophila by the value-based feeding decision

NPJ Aging Mech Dis. 2021 Sep 15;7(1):24. doi: 10.1038/s41514-021-00075-6.

Authors

Chih-Chieh Yu^{1

2}, Ferng-Chang Chang^{2

3}, Yong-Huei Hong⁴, Jian-Chiuan Li⁵, Po-Lin Chen⁵, Chun-Hong Chen⁵, Tzai-Wen Chiu^{2

3}, Tsai-Te Lu⁴, Yun-Ming Wang^{1

2}, Chih-Fei Kao^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Molecular Medicine and Bioengineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
² Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
³ Department of Biological Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
⁴ Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
⁵ National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County, Taiwan.
⁶ Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. [email protected].
⁷ Department of Biological Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. [email protected].

Abstract

Decision-making is considered an important aspect of cognitive function. Impaired decision-making is a consequence of cognitive decline caused by various physiological conditions, such as aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Here we exploited the value-based feeding decision (VBFD) assay, which is a simple sensory-motor task, to determine the cognitive status of Drosophila. Our results indicated the deterioration of VBFD is notably correlated with aging and neurodegenerative disorders. Restriction of the mushroom body (MB) neuronal activity partly blunted the proper VBFD. Furthermore, using the Drosophila polyQ disease model, we demonstrated the impaired VBFD is ameliorated by the dinitrosyl iron complex (DNIC-1), a novel and steady nitric oxide (NO)-releasing compound. Therefore we propose that the VBFD assay provides a robust assessment of Drosophila cognition and can be used to characterize additional neuroprotective interventions.