Fig. 6

Locomotor activity test during 24 h at 6–7 dpf. (a) Locomotion was evaluated in light during 10 hours, followed by a dark period of the same length (gray), followed by another 4 h light period. Analysis of distance moved in light showed significant differences between VPA-exposed and control larvae (asterisks). (b) Although tracking showed no differences in distance moved during the night, we found significant differences in the sleep-like state. We considered sleep-state as at least 60 s of no movement in a row and calculated how many minutes per hour VPA-treated animals and controls were immobile. VPA-exposed animals showed significantly less movement than controls in the night (b). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 20 in controls and n = 21 in treated animals, *p-value <0.05.