Whole-body central processing of lateral line inputs encodes flow direction relative to the center-of-mass.

ABSTRACT: From shifting visual scenes to tactile deformations and fluid motion, animals must interpret patterns of sensory flow around their body to construct stable internal models and produce adaptive behavior. Understanding of how such transformations are encoded within the brain remains incomplete. To tackle this question, we leverage the lateral line of larval zebrafish as a tractable sensory system sensitive to fluid motion that is used to steer navigation, feed, and avoid predators. By presenting stimuli of either direction to neuromasts along the body, we used high-resolution calcium imaging to map hindbrain responses. Unexpectedly, our findings challenge the notion that central lateral line processing lacks topographic structure by revealing a simple yet powerful principle centered on a ego

SUBMITTER: Lunsford ET 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12262466 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature