Zebrafish Study Reveals Brainstem Circuitry Behind Gaze and Short-Term Memory

Researchers mapped zebrafish brainstem neurons to model visual-motor systems, offering insights into eye movement disorders and brain function.

Scientists used zebrafish larvae to study how brainstem neurons control gaze and short-term memory through feedback loops.
The team built a computational model based on the zebrafish's neuronal wiring, which accurately predicted brain activity patterns.
Zebrafish are an effective model organism due to their simple neural anatomy, with only 500 neurons in the brainstem controlling eye movement.
Findings may inform future treatments for eye movement disorders, such as strabismus and nystagmus, by targeting specific malfunctioning neurons.
The research provides a framework for understanding more complex brain systems involving short-term memory, such as speech and visual processing.