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Abstract
Behavioral expression of food-associated memory in fruit flies is constrained by satiety
and promoted by hunger, suggesting an influence of motivational state. Here, we identify
a neural mechanism that integrates the internal state of hunger and appetitive memory.
We show that stimulation of neurons that express neuropeptide F (dNPF), an ortholog
of mammalian NPY, mimics food deprivation and promotes memory performance in satiated
flies. Robust appetitive memory performance requires the dNPF receptor in six dopaminergic
neurons that innervate a distinct region of the mushroom bodies. Blocking these dopaminergic
neurons releases memory performance in satiated flies, whereas stimulation suppresses
memory performance in hungry flies. Therefore, dNPF and dopamine provide a motivational
switch in the mushroom body that controls the output of appetitive memory.