Neural correlates of state transitions elicited by a chemosensory danger cue

Detection of predator cues changes the brain state in prey species and helps them avoid danger. Dysfunctionality in changing the central state appropriately in stressful situations is proposed to be an underlying cause of multiple psychiatric disorders in humans.

Here, we investigate the dynamics of neural circuits mediating response to a threat, to characterize these states and to identify potential control networks. We use resonant scanning 2-photon microscopy for in vivo brain-wide imaging and custom designed behavioral assays for the study.

We first show that 5-7 day old zebrafish larvae react to an alarm pheromone (Schreckstoff) with reduced mobility. They subsequently display heightened vigilance, as evidenced by increased dark avoidance. Calcium imaging indicates that exposure to Schreckstoff elicits stimulus-locked activity in olfactory sensory neurons innervating a lateral glomerulus and in telencephalic regions including the putative medial amygdala and entopeduncular nucleus. Sustained activity outlasting the stimulus delivery was detected in regions regulating neuromodulator release, including the lateral habenula, posterior tuberculum, superior raphe, and locus coeruleus.

We propose that these latter regions contribute to the network that defines the "threatened" state, while neurons with transient activity serve as the trigger. Our study highlights the utility of the zebrafish larval alarm response system to examine neural circuits during stress dependent brain state transitions and to discover potential therapeutic agents when such transitions are disrupted.