PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Paride Antinucci
AU  - Mónica Folgueira
AU  - Isaac H. Bianco
TI  - A pretectal command system controls hunting behaviour
AID  - 10.1101/637215
DP  - 2019 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 637215
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/05/15/637215.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/05/15/637215.full
AB  - For many species, hunting is an innate behaviour that is crucial for survival, yet the circuits that control predatory action sequences are poorly understood. We used larval zebrafish to identify a command system that controls hunting. By combining calcium imaging with a virtual hunting assay, we identified a discrete pretectal region that is selectively active when animals initiate hunting. Targeted genetic labelling allowed us to examine the function and morphology of individual cells and identify two classes of pretectal neuron that project to ipsilateral optic tectum or the contralateral tegmentum. Optogenetic stimulation of single neurons of either class was able to induce sustained hunting sequences, in the absence of prey. Furthermore, laser ablation of these neurons impaired prey-catching and prevented induction of hunting by optogenetic stimulation of the anterior-ventral tectum. In sum, we define a specific population of pretectal neurons that functions as a command system to drive predatory behaviour.Key findingsPretectal neurons are recruited during hunting initiationOptogenetic stimulation of single pretectal neurons can induce predatory behaviourAblation of pretectal neurons impairs huntingPretectal cells comprise a command system controlling hunting behaviour