Neural networks can exhibit stable patterns of activity called attractors. Attractor dynamics are thought to underlie working memory and goal-directed behavior, but it is not clear how the persistent activity associated with attractors can be terminated when behaviorally required. In a study published in Nature, Lanz et al. found that a two-part attractor circuit in the Drosophila fan-shaped body — a structure that controls action selection and navigation — allows a disinhibitory gate to turn persistent goal-related activity on or off.
The authors recorded from two neuron populations: hΔK neurons and PFG neurons. During undirected walking, PFG neuron activity matched the fly’s current heading direction and was decoupled from hΔK neuron activity. When the fly followed an odor, activity in both groups persistently encoded a stored navigational goal rather than the instantaneous heading.
This attractor-like activity was enabled by coupling between the recurrently connected hΔK and PFG neurons. Physiology, imaging and modelling experiments suggested that odor-associated suppression of inhibitory inputs acts to disinhibit the hΔK neurons, thereby permitting coupling of the two halves of the split attractor. Disinhibition is a common neural circuit motif and might be used by many recurrent networks to flexibly control attractor dynamics.
Original reference: Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-11144-9 (2026) This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription Receive 12 print issues and online access Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Nature Neuroscience https://www.nature.com/neuro/ Olson, W.P. Nat Neurosci 29, 2625 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-026-02511-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-026-02511-w
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