Cited by 316Zebrafish Biomedical Research ApplicationsNeural dynamics and brain functionVisual perception and processing mechanisms

From Whole-Brain Data to Functional Circuit Models: The Zebrafish Optomotor Response

Open access
Naumann, Eva A., Fitzgerald, James E., Dunn, Timothy W., Rihel, Jason, Sompolinsky, Haim, Engert, Florian·2016·Cell

Abstract

SUMMARY Detailed descriptions of brain-scale sensorimotor circuits underlying vertebrate behavior remain elusive. Recent advances in zebrafish neuroscience offer new opportunities to dissect such circuits via whole-brain imaging, behavioral analysis, functional perturbations, and network modeling. Here, we harness these tools to generate a brain-scale circuit model of the optomotor response, an orienting behavior evoked by visual motion. We show that such motion is processed by diverse neural response types distributed across multiple brain regions. To transform sensory input into action, these regions sequentially integrate eye- and direction-specific sensory streams, refine representations via interhemispheric inhibition, and demix locomotor instructions to independently drive turning and forward swimming. While experiments revealed many neural response types throughout the brain, modeling identified the dimensions of functional connectivity most critical for the behavior. We thus reveal how distributed neurons collaborate to generate behavior and illustrate a paradigm for distilling functional circuit models from whole-brain data.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cell.2016.10.019

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  • simZFish1.0 successfully replicates key behavioral aspects of zebrafish OMR, partly due to its tuning to match behaviors for limited orthogonal stimuli.

    “The first iteration, simZFish1.0, successfully replicates key behavioral aspects of zebrafish OMR, partly due to its tuning to match behaviors for limited orthogonal stimuli (25).”

    From Artificial embodied circuits uncover neural architectures of vertebrate visuomotor behaviors (2025) · cites this paper as [25]

    The Results section, “Identifying Critical Dimensions of Functional Connectivity” (page unavailable), says the circuit-model architecture could accurately predict behavioral data, and the Methods describe fitting predictions to responses under ten stimulus conditions. Our copy does not identify that model as simZFish1.0 or establish that its success was partly due to tuning on limited orthogonal stimuli. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Medial/forward motion-responsive neurons are the most frequent monocular response type in real zebrafish, responding to medial and forward motion.

    “Moreover, medial/forward motion-responsive neurons are the most frequent monocular response type in real zebrafish (iMM (25), cf.,’MoNL’ (32)), which respond to medial (nasalward) and forward (translational) motion.”

    From Artificial embodied circuits uncover neural architectures of vertebrate visuomotor behaviors (2025) · cites this paper as [25]

    In Results, ‘Most Pt Neurons Can Be Classified into a Few Functional Response Types’ (page unavailable), the paper identifies iMM as a monocular class responsive to medial motion with a strong preference for forward motion. It does not establish in the available text that iMM is the most frequent monocular response type; it says only that eight response types occurred at elevated frequency. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Current models of zebrafish visuomotor transformations rely on correlation-based neural activity, lack realistic retina or motor representations, omit neural connectivity manipulation, and exclude closed-loop observations of neural activation during behavior.

    “Current models of zebrafish visuomotor transformations rely on correlation-based neural activity, lack realistic representations of the retina or motor systems (25, 29), omit the ability to manipulate neural connectivity, and exclude closed-loop observations of neural activation during behavior, which limits the integrative investigation of the system within its sensory and physical environment.”

    From Artificial embodied circuits uncover neural architectures of vertebrate visuomotor behaviors (2025) · cites this paper as [25]

    The Discussion says the model ignores processing in the retina and spinal cord, and the Methods describe correlation-based neural activity maps. But the Results report both an experimental commissure ablation and its simulation in the model, so the claim that connectivity cannot be manipulated is not supported. The Introduction mentions closed-loop stimulus delivery, while the Methods describe neural imaging in restrained, paralyzed fish; these passages do not establish closed-loop neural observations during behavior. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Alternative neural circuits favoring lower anterior DSGC connectivity could be equally effective but would require downstream visuomotor circuits different from those experimentally observed.

    “Although it is plausible that alternative neural circuits favoring lower anterior DSGCs connectivity could be equally effective, they would require downstream visuomotor circuits different from those experimentally observed (25).”

    From Artificial embodied circuits uncover neural architectures of vertebrate visuomotor behaviors (2025) · cites this paper as [25]

    The Results section, “Identifying Critical Dimensions of Functional Connectivity” (page unavailable), says that multiple sets of connections can yield similar behavioral predictions, supporting the possibility of equally effective alternatives. It does not identify alternatives favoring lower anterior DSGC connectivity or say that they would require downstream visuomotor circuits different from those experimentally observed. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • The simulations explain why pretectal neurons in real zebrafish preferentially respond to motion in the lower posterior visual field.

    “Specifically, our simulations explain why pretectal neurons in real zebrafish preferentially respond to motion in the lower posterior visual field (25, 30, 31), because with laterally positioned eyes, translational, bottom-projected visual stimuli generate opposing rotational optic flow patterns (Fig. 4E).”

    From Artificial embodied circuits uncover neural architectures of vertebrate visuomotor behaviors (2025) · cites this paper as [25]

    The Results section on pretectal activity reports that zebrafish pretectal neurons respond to motion, and the Methods say motion stimuli were presented from below. Neither passage establishes that the neurons preferentially respond to the lower posterior visual field; the paper does not provide that spatial preference as an explanation for the citing authors’ simulations. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Naumann, E. A., Fitzgerald, J. E., Dunn, T. W., Rihel, J., Sompolinsky, H., & Engert, F.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • University College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Engert, Florian
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-11
Volume
167
Issue
4
Pages
947-960.e20
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2547071550
Cited by
315
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 46 · 2025: 40 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 14
FWCI
14.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • NIH (U01NS090449, DP1 NS082121, R24NS086601)
  • Simons Foundation (SCGB#325207)
  • European Research Council (282027 ZFISHSLEEP)
  • Marie Curie Fellowship (PIIF-GA-2012-328847)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural dynamics and brain function
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
Keywords
optomotor response, zebrafish, sensorimotor circuits, visual motion processing, interhemispheric inhibition, functional connectivity, locomotor behavior, orienting
MeSH terms
Animals, Brain, Neural Pathways, Neurons, Swimming, Visual Perception, Zebrafish, Feedback, Sensory, Neuroimaging

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