How Do Insects Get Knocked Out?
WouterFly brains don’t work that way. Instead of visual information being translated into a single pixel, flies use flashes of light to piece together the image. Human beings process images at about 60 frames per second, while flies can process up to 250 flashes per second. Their fast responses enable them to escape predators. This means that flies are unable to be knocked out by a quick swat.
One type of spray that works to knock flies out is a spray of droplets. One droplet is about 0.5mm in size, and impacts the antenna. Another cluster of droplets has similar sizes, hitting the fly’s head and splashing off the wall. In a few seconds, the fly regains its balance and begins to walk again.
Another method is to shock the flies. Several insects have been known to fall into a chill coma after being exposed to cold temperatures. The method is commonly used in insect research as a diagnostic test. It is also possible for fruit flies to learn new tasks and then be tested soon afterward. A good way to determine whether a certain insect is immune to a certain food or a particular chemical can be determined by observing how fast a fly wakes up and returns to the culture vial.
The cellular basis of TBI is also being studied. Researchers are hoping to develop a test based on blood biomarkers, and to develop a treatment to prevent brain cell death.
