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Abstract
Stereotyped synaptic connections define the neural circuits of the brain. In vertebrates,
stimulus-independent activity contributes to neural circuit formation. It is unknown
whether this type of activity is a general feature of nervous system development.
Here, we report patterned, stimulus-independent neural activity in the Drosophila
visual system during synaptogenesis. Using in vivo calcium, voltage, and glutamate
imaging, we found that all neurons participate in this spontaneous activity, which
is characterized by brain-wide periodic active and silent phases. Glia are active
in a complementary pattern. Each of the 15 examined of the over 100 specific neuron
types in the fly visual system exhibited a unique activity signature. The activity
of neurons that are synaptic partners in the adult was highly correlated during development.
We propose that this cell type-specific activity coordinates the development of the
functional circuitry of the adult brain. Akin & Bajar et al. report that stimulus-independent
neural activity occurs in cell type-specific patterns during synapse formation in
Drosophila . Their findings suggest that neural activity may be a fundamental feature
of brain development.