From perception to behavior: The neural circuits underlying prey hunting in larval zebrafish.

Abstract in brief

• The larval zebrafish is a useful model for understanding how brains process sensory information and translate it into behavior, especially in the context of prey hunting, which is an instinctual activity requiring the integration of visual cues and motor responses.
• Due to its transparency and small size, scientists can use optical techniques to observe the zebrafish's brain activity in real-time, helping to uncover the neural circuits involved in prey detection, approach, and capture.
• The review highlights current understanding of visual processing for prey hunting, the neural pathways that generate motor actions, how internal states and past experiences influence hunting behavior, and emphasizes ongoing questions in studying these neural mechanisms.]