By continuously listening to their mother tongue in early childhood, humans acquire the ability to identify the sound characteristics of that language.In order to elucidate the mechanism of such language development, research using bird song learning as a model has been advanced, but many unclear points remain in its neural mechanism and molecular mechanism.

　This research team worked to elucidate the distinguishing mechanism of the "courtship song," which is the sound of feathers produced by male Drosophila when courting females.In songbirds such as the zebra finch that learn to sing, the experience of listening to the songs of other individuals in early childhood has a great influence on the subsequent song identification.Therefore, when we conducted experiments to raise Drosophila with the same species while young, or by listening to artificial courtship songs, we found that the ability to distinguish and respond to similar songs was improved.

　Furthermore, we investigated the neural basis for which this experience-dependent song learning is established.Since the inhibitory neurotransmitter "GABA" is known to be involved in zebra finch, molecular genetics was used to create flies that suppressed GABA production.Then, it was confirmed that GABA was necessary for song learning, as the discriminating ability did not improve no matter how much the experience of listening to songs was given.It was also revealed that the nerve cells that receive GABA are "pC1 neurons" that play a role in manipulating mating behavior.

　This achievement, which was the first in the world to discover the "song learning" of flies, is expected to develop a new research strategy of using Drosophila, which is capable of various experimental operations, as a model system for elucidating the mechanism of language and song learning.

Paper information:[ELIFE] Auditory experience controls the maturation of song discrimination and sexual response in Drosophila