During evolution and development all brains started off small. So, it is realistic to assume that elementary forms of cognition might be present in small brains, such as that of the fruitflyDrosophila melanogaster. A study using molecular genetics and behavioural analyses now indicates that the fruitfly can, indeed, carry out quite complex neural tasks, and that it uses a central brain structure (the so-called mushroom bodies) to do this.
- Randolf Menzel
- Martin Giurfa
