In this article, we demonstrate assays to study thermal nociception in Drosophila larvae. One assay involves spatially-restricted (local) stimulation of thermal nociceptors1,2 while the second involves a wholesale (global) activation of most or all such neurons3. Together, these techniques allow visualization and quantification of the behavioral functions of Drosophila nociceptive sensory neurons.
Chattopadhyay, A., Gilstrap, A. V., Galko, M. J. Local and Global Methods of Assessing Thermal Nociception in Drosophila Larvae. J. Vis. Exp. (63), e3837, doi:10.3791/3837 (2012).