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Scientists Map Male Fruit Fly Brain With 166,000 Neurons

9/4/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. scientists mapped the entire male fruit fly central nervous system, identifying over 166,000 neurons.
Researchers found a male-specific neural network that drives courtship lunges and aggression, while most circuits are shared.
Visual processing occupies more than half of the roughly 11,000 neuron types mapped.
Gerry Rubin said the maps enable sex-specific behavior studies.
Carlos Ribeiro suggested the fly circuitry could inspire artificial systems.

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Story summary

U.S. scientists mapped the entire male fruit fly central nervous system, identifying over 166,000 neurons.
Researchers found a male-specific neural network that drives courtship lunges and aggression, while most circuits are shared.
Visual processing occupies more than half of the roughly 11,000 neuron types mapped.
Gerry Rubin said the maps enable sex-specific behavior studies.
Carlos Ribeiro suggested the fly circuitry could inspire artificial systems.