Avoidance
To navigate successfully in complex environments, efficient locomotor control is required. Zebrafish larvae move with discrete bouts of propulsion generated by tail movements. While these movements have many consistent features, the dynamical properties of individual bouts are flexible to adapt to different behavioral contexts. Neural populations in the hindbrain integrate upstream sensory information and control the dynamics of propulsion. We are interested in understanding the mechanism by which distributed networks in the hindbrain generate and control these dynamics. In this project, we will develop generative models that can capture the diverse repertoire of movements. These models will provide insight into how the brain controls different movements, and can help us to interpret population neuronal activity recordings.
Publications
- Kinkhabwala, A., et al. [2011]. A structural and functional ground plan for neurons in the hindbrain of zebrafish. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2011, 108(3): p. 1164-9.
