Neural coordination of wing and leg movements during a terrestrial threat display.

AIP neurons in Drosophila coordinate threat-related wing and leg actions through a hierarchical circuit involving two parallel downstream modules.

• Why it matters: Understanding how appendage movements are integrated during social displays addresses a key gap in knowledge about neural control of complex behaviors and how locomotor circuits are repurposed for communication.
• What they did: Using a large-scale functional screen, connectome mapping, and targeted genetic tools, the study identified AIP neurons and their downstream targets, revealing that threat actions are controlled by two modules: one for wings and one for legs.
• The result: The findings show that wing and leg movements are controlled via distinct pathways—direct projections for wings and interneuron-mediated antagonistic control for legs—offering insight into hierarchical neural coordination and social communication mechanisms.