Mark Arthur Frye

Mark Arthur Frye is a Professor in the departments of Integrative Biology And Physiology and Neurobiology at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), part of the College of Letters and Science. His research focuses on neuroethology and visual systems, particularly in insects like Drosophila melanogaster. He investigates how sensory inputs from vision and olfaction are integrated to guide behavior, with emphasis on flight control, object tracking, and neuromodulation of neural circuits.

Key research grants include NIH R01NS120984 (2021-2026) on olfactory modulation of visual circuits, NIH R01EY026031 (2016-2021) on neural circuits for visual feature detection, and leadership roles in neuroethology conferences. His work combines experimental neurobiology with computational modeling to understand behavior at the intersection of sensory processing and motor output.

Dr. Frye’s lab (Frye Lab) explores topics like insect navigation, multisensory integration, and the biophysics of behavior. Notable contributions include discoveries about Drosophila’s visual tracking strategies, serotonergic modulation of visual neurons, and the neural basis of flight decisions. He collaborates widely, with co-authors including researchers at UCSD and other institutions, and his research concepts span topics from Drosophila behavior to neuromodulatory pathways.