Neural control of aggression in Drosophila

•Drosophila engage in a complex repertoire of aggressive behaviors.•Sensory cues from conspecific competitors, potential mates and food resources drive aggression in males.•Specific populations of aminergic and peptidergic neurons that modulate aggression have been identified.•P1 neurons trigger a persistent internal state that promotes both male courtship and aggression.•Social experience modifies aggressive behavior on short and long-term timescales.

Like most animal species, fruit flies fight to obtain and defend resources essential to survival and reproduction. Aggressive behavior in Drosophila is genetically specified and also strongly influenced by the fly's social context, past experiences and internal states, making it an excellent framework for investigating the neural mechanisms that regulate complex social behaviors. Here, I summarize our current knowledge of the neural control of aggression in Drosophila and discuss recent advances in understanding the sensory pathways that influence the decision to fight or court, the neuromodulatory control of aggression, the neural basis by which internal states can influence both fighting and courtship, and how social experience modifies aggressive behavior.