A subset of dpDp neurons (top) and their odor-evoked activity (bottom - ’warmer’ colors indicate higher activity,) in the zebrafish brain, visualized by multiphoton calcium imaging.
Animals are able to attach simple ratings to complex objects in their environment to guide behavior. For example, humans can easily tell whether they like a wine or not, which will influence their future choices in the wine store. Similarly, animals can tell whether a complex odor is good or bad in order to decide whether to approach or avoid it. This ability to assign behaviorally relevant value to complex objects is essential for intelligent behavior. Researchers from the Friedrich group revealed how odors are associated with "good" or "bad" in the brain of zebrafish, and how these associations are modified during learning. Surprisingly, they find that inhibitory neurons make a major contribution to the specificity of these associations. The group of Rainer Friedrich studies neuronal computations and their experience-dependence, using zebrafish as a model system; the small vertebrate provides important advantages for mechanistic analysis of circuit structure and function.
TO READ THIS ARTICLE, CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT
And extend your reading, free of charge and with no commitment.
