A group of larval fish, about 4 millimeters long
Our work attempts to reveal principles underlying how the circuits in the brain and spinal cord produce behavior. To do that, we need: to reveal the structure of the nerve cells; study their activation during behavior; reveal how they are connected to one another to form a circuit to produce behavior; and then test their roles in behavior by activating or removing them. The genetic tools and transparency of 4 millimeter long larval zebrafish, shown above, allow us to do all of these anywhere in the brain and spinal cord of an intact animal - something that is not possible in other vertebrate models. We also study regeneration and sleep.