Homozygous ikar1 mutants show increased sensitivity to ethanol vapor compared with controls. ikar1 mutant flies also show reduced rapid tolerance to ethanol. Whereas control flies exhibit a reduced behavioural response 3.5 hours following pre-exposure to intoxicating levels of ethanol, ikar1 mutant flies exposed to either ethanol or air produce a similar response.
In memory tests, mutants perform at 105% of wild-type after a single training session, at 12% after spaced training.