The Standard Ethanol Response: The Movie

This movie shows all of the typical phases of the locomotor activity response to a moderate concentration of ethanol vapor. This movie is shown at about 14 times real speed. In the first few moments, the flies are only exposed to air. From T=0 to the end, the flies are continuously exposed to ethanol vapor.

Description of Activity

Before 0: The flies are in their normal resting state under environmental conditions.

0-1 min: Startle - The flies dramatically increase their speed due to an acute olfactory response to ethanol.

1-1.5 min: Quiescence - The flies calm down again.

1.5-7 min: Hyperactivity - The average speed of the flies gradually increases for an extended period. (Some time has been spliced out of the movie after T=7 in order to shorten the movie.)

7-20 min: Sedation - The average speed of the flies decreases. Some of the flies completely lose their ability to stand upright.