Thirst reweights temperature preference through dual dopaminergic and endocrine modulation in Drosophila.

Thirst shifts temperature preference in Drosophila by modulating neural circuits through dual dopaminergic and endocrine pathways, altering hot and cold avoidance behaviors.

• Why it matters: Understanding how internal physiological states influence sensory processing is crucial for revealing adaptive behaviors, yet the neural mechanisms behind this modulation are not well understood.
• What they did: The study used behavioral assays, brain imaging, and neural manipulations to identify gamma mushroom body neurons as integrators of thermal and internal signals, focusing on dopaminergic neurons and steroid hormone pathways.
• The result: Thirst reduces activity in pathways that promote hot and cold avoidance, reweighting thermal responses to favor cooler environments, thereby enabling flexible, state-dependent behavioral decisions.