Neuronal detection of social actions directs collective escape behavior.

ABSTRACT: Animals in groups obtain information from their social partners to engage in collective behavior^1-4. Social information transmission has been observed amongst individuals in fish schools^5-8, bird flocks^9,10, and human groups^11,12, but the neural mechanisms for detecting socially transmitted information are poorly understood^4,13-15. By studying the schooling glassfish Danionella cerebrum ^16-18, here we demonstrate that escape from danger is enhanced by visual perception of other escaping fish. We found that neural populations in the midbrain optic tectum^19-21 and dorsal thalamus^22,23 are activated by the rapid escape of social partners. These neurons are also driven by the sudden disappearance of

SUBMITTER: Yu JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12485696 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature