Levine, J.D., Funes, P., Dowse, H.B., Hall, J.C. (2002). Resetting the circadian clock by social experience in Drosophila melanogaster.  Science 298(5600): 2010--2012.

FBrf0155497

Research paper

Circadian clocks are influenced by social interactions in a variety of species, but little is known about the sensory mechanisms underlying these effects. We investigated whether social cues could reset circadian rhythms in Drosophila melanogaster by addressing two questions: Is there a social influence on circadian timing? If so, then how is that influence communicated? The experiments show that in a social context Drosophila transmit and receive cues that influence circadian time and that these cues are likely olfactory.