Rheotaxis in Larval Zebrafish

This lecture explores the research on rheotaxis in larval zebrafish, focusing on how they use their mechanosensory lateral line to perform this behavior in the absence of visual cues. The presentation covers the context of previous studies, the methodological approach involving behavioral chambers and lateral line ablations, and the results obtained, including the flow velocity gradients as stimuli for rheotaxis. The lecture also delves into a behavioral algorithm for rheotaxis, the role of the mechanosensory lateral line system as a gradient sensor, and the conclusions drawn from the study. Discussions on the gradient dependency of rheotaxis, the complementary nature of vision and mechanosensory organs, and the potential applications in robotics are also included.