From vision to action: Systems analysis of sensorimotor circuitry controlling visually-guided behaviour. (360G-Wellcome-101195_Z_13_Z)

My overall goal is to produce a comprehensive structure-function model that describes the complete sensorimotor circuit mediating visually-guided prey-capture behaviour in larval zebrafish. The small size and optically transparency of larval fish will enable me to perform two-photon functional imaging with genetically-encoded calcium indicators to examine neural activity throughout the brain whilst the tethered animal performs hunting-specific behaviours directed towards synthetic visual cues. C orrelation-based analyses will be used to define the response properties of neurons throughout the brain and identify population-level representations of sensory and motor parameters. Gain and loss of function approaches will be used to test the contribution of observed activity patterns to neural processing and behaviour. These include optogenetic methods to optically manipulate the activity of distributed neuronal assemblies, and laser ablations to precisely eliminate candidate neurons. Techni ques including single-cell electroporation, electrophysiology and immunohistochemistry will be used to relate functional data with underlying circuit anatomy. In this way, combined structure-function models of the entire sensorimotor circuit will be constructed and tested. Finally, virtual reality environments will be used to evoke extended behavioural sequences that incorporate the natural variation of the hunting. This will provide a rich dataset for understanding the neural basis of a complex , adaptive behaviour.