Functional and pharmacological analyses of visual habituation learning in larval zebrafish.

ABSTRACT: Habituation allows animals to learn to ignore persistent but inconsequential stimuli. Despite being the most basic form of learning, a consensus model on the underlying mechanisms has yet to emerge. To probe relevant mechanisms, we took advantage of a visual habituation paradigm in larval zebrafish, where larvae reduce their reactions to abrupt global dimming (a dark flash). We used Ca²⁺ imaging during repeated dark flashes and identified 12 functional classes of neurons that differ based on their rate of adaptation, stimulus response shape, and anatomical location. While most classes of neurons depressed their responses to repeated stimuli, we identified populations that did not adapt or that potentiated their response. These neurons were distributed across brain areas, consist

SUBMITTER: Lamire LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10727501 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature