Much like their human counterparts, male fruit flies turn to booze when they're rejected by
females according to a new study that could have implications for people with mood disorders and addictions.
Experiments by researchers at the University of California San Francisco showed that,
given the choice between alcohol-laced or plain food, the jilted flies opted for alcohol.
Furthermore, they binged, drinking far more than their sexually satisfied counterparts.
The change in behaviour corresponded with a change in the level of a molecule called neuropeptide
in their brains: Lower levels cause them to seek "alternative rewards," the researchers said,
whereas the higher levels caused by mating seemed to keep them satisfied and sober.
