Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9811-5372
N/A
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1238-8730
N/A
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2019
Abstract
Many species execute ballistic escape reactions to avoid imminent danger. Despite fast reaction times, responses are often highly regulated, reflecting a trade-off between costly motor actions and perceived threat level. However, how sensory cues are integrated within premotor escape circuits remains poorly understood. Here, we show that in zebrafish, less precipitous threats elicit a delayed escape, characterized by flexible trajectories, which are driven by a cluster of 38 prepontine neurons that are completely separate from the fast escape pathway. Whereas neurons that initiate rapid escapes receive direct auditory input and drive motor neurons, input and output pathways for delayed escapes are indirect, facilitating integration of cross-modal sensory information. These results show that rapid decision-making in the escape system is enabled by parallel pathways for ballistic responses and flexible delayed actions and defines a neuronal substrate for hierarchical choice in the vertebrate nervous system.
Digital Commons Citation
Marquart, Gregory D.; Tabor, Kathryn M.; Bergeron, Sadie A.; Briggman, Kevin L.; and Burgess, Harold A., "Prepontine Non-giant Neurons Drive Flexible Escape Behavior in Zebrafish" (2019). Faculty & Staff Scholarship. 1566.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/1566
Source Citation
Marquart GD, Tabor KM, Bergeron SA, Briggman KL, Burgess HA (2019) Prepontine non-giant neurons drive flexible escape behavior in zebrafish. PLoS Biol 17(10): e3000480. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000480
Comments
This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.