DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS OF VESTIBULAR NEURONS RESPONSES IN THE ZEBRAFISH MODEL

The vestibular system detects head orientation and maintains balance by integrating inner ear sensory signals to drive coordinated motor responses. During early development, the number of sensory hair cells in the otolith organs increases, providing richer directional input to central neurons. It is unclear how vestibular neurons acquire functional responses as sensory inputs increase during development. Larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) offer an ideal model for studying this developmental process due to their transparency and accessible nervous system.
Vestibular tangential neurons in the zebrafish hindbrain play a key role in vestibular processing by transmitting directional information about body tilts to motor centers. How these neurons establish precise tuning and functional responses during the first week of life remains largely unknown. In this study we use two-photon calcium imaging to longitudinally monitor individual tangential neurons in vivo while presenting controlled while presenting controlled pitch (nose-up/nose-down) and roll tilts at 3, 5, and 7 dpf. This approach enables tracking the same neurons across days and characterizing changes in their sensory encoding as the vestibular circuitry matures. This work aims to map the emergence of vestibular encoding during early development and provide a framework for understanding how sensory input and circuit maturation shape functional neuronal responses.