Membrane potential dynamics of peripheral cold-sensitive neurons in <i>Drosophila</i> larvae

We demonstrate the first intracellular recordings from <i>Drosophila</i> Class III primary sensory neurons, revealing how cold stimuli are encoded at the membrane level. Cold temperature evokes sustained depolarization and trains of action potentials, with roughly half of neurons producing bursts. This activity is accompanied by increased input resistance, likely enhancing electrotonic signals from distal loci. Cold encoding thus involves more complex mechanisms than previously recognized, combining dendritic activation with global changes in membrane conductance.