Homozygous val3 mutants do not show any increased sensitivity to ethanol vapor compared with controls. However val3 mutant flies do show reduced tolerance to ethanol. Whereas control flies exhibit a reduced behavioural response following pre-exposure to ethanol in comparison with humidified air, val3 mutant flies exposed to either ethanol or air produce a similar response.
In memory tests, mutants perform at 104% of wild-type after a single training session, at 53% after spaced training.