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- Title
Search strategy is regulated by somatostatin signaling and deep brain photoreceptors in zebrafish.
- Authors
Horstick, Eric J.; Bayleyen, Yared; Sinclair, Jennifer L.; Burgess, Harold A.
- Abstract
Background: Animals use sensory cues to efficiently locate resources, but when sensory information is insufficient, they may rely on internally coded search strategies. Despite the importance of search behavior, there is limited understanding of the underlying neural mechanisms in vertebrates. Results: Here, we report that loss of illumination initiates sophisticated light-search behavior in larval zebrafish. Using three-dimensional tracking, we show that at the onset of darkness larvae swim in a helical trajectory that is spatially restricted in the horizontal plane, before gradually transitioning to an outward movement profile. Local and outward swim patterns display characteristic features of area-restricted and roaming search strategies, differentially enhancing phototaxis to nearby and remote sources of light. Retinal signaling is only required to initiate arearestricted search, implying that photoreceptors within the brain drive the transition to the roaming search state. Supporting this, orthopediaA mutant larvae manifest impaired transition to roaming search, a phenotype which is recapitulated by loss of the non-visual opsin opn4α and somatostatin signaling. Conclusion: These findings define distinct neuronal pathways for area-restricted and roaming search behaviors and clarify how internal drives promote goal-directed activity.
- Subjects
SOMATOSTATIN; ENCEPHALIC photoreceptors; PHOTOTAXIS; GENETIC mutation; ZEBRA danio
- Publication
BMC Biology, 2017, Vol 15, p1
- ISSN
1741-7007
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s12915-016-0346-2