Event:

Neurons form intricate networks through which signals pass at high speed and in complex, dynamically changing patterns. The ultimate task of this nervous activity is the generation of behavior. The goal of our research is to understand how the neuronal pathways in the brain convert sensory inputs into behavioral responses. We use the zebrafish visual system as our experimental model. A moving dot that is displayed on a miniature computer screen is able to elicit a prey capture response in a zebrafish larva. The animal swims toward the wiggling dot on the screen in front of it, in an apparent attempt to catch this “virtual prey”. With the help of two-photon microscopy, we are observing how neurons in the fish brain process these visual stimuli and generate motor commands. Targeted activation of optogenetic effectors, such as Channelrhodopsin (ChR2) and Halorhodopsin (eNpHR), allows for the remote optical control of brain function. With this method, and a battery of others, we are now identifying the circuit components whose activity is necessary and sufficient to evoke prey capture behavior.