PUBLICATION

Probabilistic Models of Larval Zebrafish Behavior Reveal Structure on Many Scales

Authors
Johnson, R.E., Linderman, S., Panier, T., Wee, C.L., Song, E., Herrera, K.J., Miller, A., Engert, F.
ID
ZDB-PUB-191226-4
Date
2019
Source
Current biology : CB   30(1): 70-82.e4 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Engert, Florian, Miller, Andrew L.
Keywords
behavioral models, behavioral simulations, exploration, hunger, hunting, natural behavior, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Hunger
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Statistical
  • Predatory Behavior/physiology
  • Swimming/physiology*
  • Visual Perception/physiology
  • Zebrafish/physiology*
PubMed
31866367 Full text @ Curr. Biol.
Abstract
Nervous systems have evolved to combine environmental information with internal state to select and generate adaptive behavioral sequences. To better understand these computations and their implementation in neural circuits, natural behavior must be carefully measured and quantified. Here, we collect high spatial resolution video of single zebrafish larvae swimming in a naturalistic environment and develop models of their action selection across exploration and hunting. Zebrafish larvae swim in punctuated bouts separated by longer periods of rest called interbout intervals. We take advantage of this structure by categorizing bouts into discrete types and representing their behavior as labeled sequences of bout types emitted over time. We then construct probabilistic models-specifically, marked renewal processes-to evaluate how bout types and interbout intervals are selected by the fish as a function of its internal hunger state, behavioral history, and the locations and properties of nearby prey. Finally, we evaluate the models by their predictive likelihood and their ability to generate realistic trajectories of virtual fish swimming through simulated environments. Our simulations capture multiple timescales of structure in larval zebrafish behavior and expose many ways in which hunger state influences their action selection to promote food seeking during hunger and safety during satiety.
Genes / Markers
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping