Biology subjects

Groneberg, A. H.

Publications and source records attributed to Groneberg, A. H..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Development of sound production in Danionella cerebrum

Acoustic signaling, integral to intraspecific communication and reproductive behavior, undergoes notable changes during an animals ontogenetic development. The onset and progression of this maturation in fish remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the ontogeny of acoustic communication in the micro glassfish Danionella cerebrum (DC), one of the smallest known vertebrates and an emerging model organism in neuroscience. Adult DC males produce audible clicks that appear in sequences with a repetition rate of 60 or 120 Hz, caused by consecutive unilateral or alternating bilateral compressions, respectively. To investigate the maturation of this ability, we performed long-term sound recordings and morphological studies of the DC sound production apparatus throughout its ontogenetic development. We found that DC start producing clicks during the second month of their lives and continually increase their abundance and structured repetition over the course of the following one to two months. The sound production machinery, including specialized bone and cartilage structures, start to form in male DC after approximately four weeks and prior to full maturation of the reproductive organs. While the DC clicks increase in amplitude with age and body size, click repetition rates of 60 and 120 Hz are stable throughout development. This suggests a fully developed central pattern generator in juvenile males, yet a continued maturation of the drumming apparatus capable of creating louder sounds.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2022

The Adaptor Protein 2 (AP2) complex modulates habituation and behavioral selection across multiple pathways and time windows

Animals constantly perceive and integrate information across sensory modalities, and their nervous systems must select behavioral responses appropriate to the current situation and prior experience. Genetic factors supporting this behavioral flexibility are often disrupted in neuropsychiatric conditions, and our previous work revealed the disease-associated ap2s1 gene critically supports habituation learning in acoustically-evoked escape behavior of zebrafish. ap2s1 encodes a subunit of the AP2 endocytosis adaptor complex and has been linked to autism spectrum disorder, though its mechanism and direct behavioral importance have not been established. Here, we show that multiple subunits of the AP2 complex regulate acoustically-evoked behavior selection and habituation learning. Furthermore, ap2s1 biases the choice between distinct escape behaviors in sensory modality-specific manners, and more broadly regulates action selection across different sensory contexts. Using tissue-specific and inducible transgenic rescue, we demonstrate that the AP2 complex functions acutely and in the nervous system to modulate acoustically-evoked habituation learning, suggesting several spatially and/or temporally distinct mechanisms through which AP2 regulates different aspects of escape behavior selection and performance. Altogether, we demonstrate that the AP2 complex coordinates action selection across stimulus modalities and contexts, providing a new vertebrate model for the role of ap2s1 in human conditions including autism spectrum disorder. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe AP2S1 gene has been linked to learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders (ASD), though the mechanisms underlying its impact on human behavior are unknown. We explored how, when, and where this gene regulates vertebrate behavior, developing a zebrafish model to identify the roles and mechanisms through which ap2s1 modulates behavior. We find that ap2s1 regulates simple acoustically-evoked learning, as well as how individuals bias behavioral choice in a wide variety of contexts. We show that ap2s1 acts at multiple distinct time periods and locations both within and outside of neuronal tissues, revealing the diverse mechanisms and pathways through which it modulates vertebrate behavior.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Early-life social experience shapes social avoidance reactions in larval zebrafish

Social experiences greatly define successive social behavior. Lack of such experiences, especially during critical phases of development, can severely impede the ability to behave adequately in social contexts. To date it is not well characterized how early-life social isolation leads to social deficits and impacts development. In many model species, it is challenging to fully control social experiences, because they depend on parental care. Moreover, complex social behaviors involve multiple sensory modalities, contexts, and actions. Hence, when studying social isolation effects, it is particularly important to parse apart social deficits from general developmental effects, such as abnormal motor learning. Here, we characterized how social experiences during early development of zebrafish larvae modulate their social behavior, at one week of age, when social avoidance reactions can be measured as discrete swim events. We show that raising larvae in social isolation leads to enhanced social avoidance, in terms of reaction distance and reaction strength. Specifically, larvae raised in isolation use a high-acceleration escape swim bout, the short latency C-start, more frequently during social interactions. These behavioral differences are absent in non-social contexts. By ablating the lateral line and presenting the fish with local water vibrations, we show that lateral line inputs are both necessary and sufficient to drive enhanced social avoidance reactions. Taken together, our results show that social experience during development is a critical factor in shaping mechanosensory avoidance reactions in larval zebrafish. HighlightsO_LILarval zebrafish raised in isolation show enhanced social avoidance reactions C_LIO_LIEnhanced avoidance is composed of increased avoidance distances and usage of high acceleration escape swims C_LIO_LIThe lateral line sensory organ is necessary and sufficient for the increased usage of high acceleration escape swims C_LI

neuroscience↗