The design of mazes to studyDrosophila behavior

Although mazes have been widely used in studying phototaxis, geotaxis, and, more recently, learning inDrosophila, there is no uniformity in maze design, and little is known about the effects such apparatus differences may have on behavior. The new maze design described here is based on T-junctions, molded individually in acrylic, and provides an inexpensive and standardized means of building mazes to any desired specification. The need for uniformity in maze design is demonstrated with an experiment on three variables at the start of a maze that affect the subsequent response of four strains ofD. melanogaster in different ways. Some implications for futureDrosophila research using mazes are considered.