Neural Dynamics and Architecture of the Heading Direction Circuit in Zebrafish

Host

Francesco Costantino, PhD Student, Champalimaud Research

Venue

Seminar room

Abstract

Head direction cells, neurons whose activity depends on the animal's heading, are crucial for navigation. While these cells are well-studied in vertebrates, the mechanisms by which they acquire their properties remain poorly understood. Recently, heading representation were found in the insect central complex. In this region the anatomical arrangement of neurons aligns with their functional tuning, forming an ideal configuration to generate the ring attractor dynamics necessary for representing heading direction. The study of this circuit started to produce the first mechanistic and biophysical insights into how neuronal networks could represent orientation, which are still missing in the vertebrate brain.

In this talk, I will present our findings on a network in the anterior hindbrain of larval zebrafish that integrates directional motion to generate a stable representation of heading direction. This network shares both functional and anatomical similarities with the heading direction circuits in rodents. Furthermore, I will describe the highly organized architecture of these neurons and their projections, which strikingly resemble the arrangement found in the fly central complex. Finally, I will share new data that refine our understanding of the circuit's fine-grained anatomy and introduce novel questions about a neighbor region, the ventral IPN, inviting discussion on its possible functional roles.

Biography

Dr. Luigi Petrucco is an EMBO Postdoctoral Fellow in the Iurilli Lab at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), a position he has held since 2022. He earned his degree in Biology from the Scuola Normale Superiore at the University of Pisa and went on to complete a Ph.D. in Neuroscience at LMU Munich under the guidance of Prof. Ruben Portugues, where his research focused on the neural bases of heading representation in larval zebrafish. Beyond his primary research, Dr. Petrucco has a wide range of interests, including exotic animal models, the history of (neuro)science, unconventional scientific theories, Python programming, and designing DIY experimental setups. 

Register here.
 

About CR Colloquia Series

Champalimaud Research (CR) Colloquia Series is a seminar programme organised by the Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown to promote the discussion about the most interesting and significant questions in neuroscience and physiology & cancer with appointed speakers by the CR Community.