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How does an animal’s brain recognize other animals of its own kind? Scientists studying this in young zebragish have discovered a neuronal circuit that mediates social attraction. This specialized pathway, which runs from the retina deep into the brain, enables zebrafish to detect and approach nearby conspecifics.
E-Mail IMAGE: The interaction of two brain regions helps zebrafish decide which predator to flee from. view more Credit: MPI of Neurobiology/ Kuhl Being constantly flooded by a mass of stimuli, it is impossible for us to react to all of them. The same holds true for a little fish. Which stimuli should it pay attention to and which not? Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology have now deciphered the neuronal circuit that zebrafish use to prioritize visual stimuli. Surrounded by predators, a fish can thus choose its escape route from this predicament. Even though we a...
Researchers create a molecular catalog that describes different types of neurons Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the bottleneck through which all visual impressions flow from the retina to the brain. A team from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, University of California Berkeley and Harvard University created a molecular catalog that describes the different types of these neurons. In this way, individual RGC types could be systematically studied and linked to a specific connection, function and behavioral response. When zebrafish see light, they often swim towards it. Same with prey...
E-Mail IMAGE: The catalog allowed studying individual cell types in the retina and linking them to a specific structure, function and behavioral response. view more Credit: MPI of Neurobiology / Koelsch Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the bottleneck through which all visual impressions flow from the retina to the brain. A team from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology, University of California Berkeley and Harvard University created a molecular catalog that describes the different types of these neurons. In this way, individual RGC types could be systematically studied and l...