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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.03.01.708829

Developmental and genetic modulation of evidence integration dynamics in zebrafish sensorimotor decision-making

Garza, R.·El Hady, A.·Bahl, A.
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Abstract

Animals integrate information over time and maintain persistent internal representations of cues to guide decision-making. How the underlying behavioral algorithms of individual animals depend on factors such as experience, developmental stage, or genotype remains poorly understood. Drift-diffusion models provide a powerful theoretical framework to describe and predict performance metrics across a wide range of species. The stochastic nature of these models and the typical limited throughput of most experimental designs challenge the automatic inference of latent variables. Here, we combine high-throughput behavioral assays in larval zebrafish with drift-diffusion modeling, revealing that larvae progressively develop more persistent, self-reinforcing integration dynamics during early development. This effect is reduced in fish carrying mutations in genes linked to human epilepsy and schizophrenia. Our results show that behavior-based drift-diffusion modeling can offer a scalable, automated approach to generate experimentally testable hypotheses about the algorithmic implementation of sensorimotor integration in health and disease. LINK TO VIDEOShttps://cloud.uni-konstanz.de/index.php/s/qx9DSFciAey3aD7 TEASEREvidence-integration dynamics in zebrafish mature during development and are selectively altered by disease-associated mutations.

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Garza, R., El Hady, A., Bahl, A.. 2026-03-03. Developmental and genetic modulation of evidence integration dynamics in zebrafish sensorimotor decision-making. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.03.01.708829

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