B.B.C. Article
A cluster of cells in the brain of a fly can track the animal's orientation like a compass, a study has revealed.
Fixed in place on top of a spherical treadmill, a fruit fly walked on the spot while neuroscientists peered into its brain using a microscope.
Watching the neurons fire inside a donut-shaped brain region, they saw activity sweep around the ring to match the direction the animal was headed.
Mammals have similar "head direction cells" but this is a first for flies.
The findings are reported in the journal Nature.

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