bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown
Published: March 17, 2025
Summary Behavioral thermoregulation is critical for survival across animals, including endothermic mammals. However, we do not understand how neural circuits control navigation towards preferred temperatures. Zebrafish exclusively regulate body temperature via behavior, making them ideal studying thermal navigation. Here, combine behavioral analysis, machine learning and calcium imaging to larval zebrafish seek out temperatures within gradients. By developing a stimulus-controlled Markov model of find that hot avoidance largely relies on the modulation individual swim decisions. The cold temperatures, particular challenge in ectotherms, however deliberate strategy combining gradient alignment directed reversals. Calcium identified neurons medulla encoding stimuli form place-code like representation gradient. Our findings establish key link between activity thermoregulatory elucidating basis animals
Language: Английский