Speeding up the experiment-to-model lead time: using a flexible microscope platform to explore the neural correlates of the short-term memory of larval zebrafish

Abstract

"Cognitive processes have dynamics that evolve across multiple brain areas, presenting a challenge for studying the mechanisms of the under- lying neural circuits. Such is the case for working memory, a central com- ponent of cognition where sensory information is temporarily retained in a form that can be processed and used to assist future decision-making. Through recent optical and genetic advances that allow non-invasive recordings from large neural populations, it is now possible to tackle challenging research questions such as studying the neural basis of work- ing memory. Answering such questions, however, demands multimodal experimental assays, which involve collecting vast amounts of data from multiple sources and controlling diverse hardware setups. In this thesis, I describe the technical advances and behavioral and imaging experiments that led to the discovery of a novel working memory-like process in zebrafish.(...)"