Bahl Lab
@bahllab.bsky.social
How do individual animals and animal collectives process and evaluate sensory information to give rise to behavior? We are investigating this and much more in the beautiful city of Konstanz, Germany.
This work would not have been possible without the support of @uni-konstanz.de, @cbehav.bsky.social, @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social, @zukunftskolleg.bsky.social, @erc.europa.eu, @boehringerglobal.bsky.social, NIH U19, and @dfg.de. (7/7)
August 25, 2025 at 9:05 AM
This work would not have been possible without the support of @uni-konstanz.de, @cbehav.bsky.social, @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social, @zukunftskolleg.bsky.social, @erc.europa.eu, @boehringerglobal.bsky.social, NIH U19, and @dfg.de. (7/7)
A big thanks to our co-authors Sophie Aimon, @maxcapelle.bsky.social, @flofightscience.bsky.social, Heike Naumann, Herwig Baier, Krasimir Slanchev, as well as our colleagues in the Neurobiology department, and scientific support structures of the @uni-konstanz.de. (6/7)
August 25, 2025 at 9:04 AM
A big thanks to our co-authors Sophie Aimon, @maxcapelle.bsky.social, @flofightscience.bsky.social, Heike Naumann, Herwig Baier, Krasimir Slanchev, as well as our colleagues in the Neurobiology department, and scientific support structures of the @uni-konstanz.de. (6/7)
These results demonstrate how distinct visual features are extracted, processed in parallel, and eventually integrated to guide behavior. This modular and parallel circuit architecture provides a context-flexible solution for transforming sensory input into action. (5/7)
August 25, 2025 at 9:03 AM
These results demonstrate how distinct visual features are extracted, processed in parallel, and eventually integrated to guide behavior. This modular and parallel circuit architecture provides a context-flexible solution for transforming sensory input into action. (5/7)
We investigated the morphology and neurotransmitters of functionally identified neurons and show how the identified pathways converge in the anterior hindbrain. (4/7)
August 25, 2025 at 9:03 AM
We investigated the morphology and neurotransmitters of functionally identified neurons and show how the identified pathways converge in the anterior hindbrain. (4/7)
Through brain-wide 2P calcium imaging, we identify neurons whose activity matches our model components. (3/7)
August 25, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Through brain-wide 2P calcium imaging, we identify neurons whose activity matches our model components. (3/7)
We find that zebrafish compute three visual features–motion, luminance level, and changes in luminance–and simply add cues to choose swim direction. Our model captures behavior and predicts potential computations in the brain. (2/7)
August 25, 2025 at 9:02 AM
We find that zebrafish compute three visual features–motion, luminance level, and changes in luminance–and simply add cues to choose swim direction. Our model captures behavior and predicts potential computations in the brain. (2/7)
Larval zebrafish follow the direction of whole-field motion #OMR and prefer to swim towards brighter areas #phototaxis. But what happens in the brain when motion goes left, and there is brightness on the right? (1/7)
August 25, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Larval zebrafish follow the direction of whole-field motion #OMR and prefer to swim towards brighter areas #phototaxis. But what happens in the brain when motion goes left, and there is brightness on the right? (1/7)
These results demonstrate how distinct visual features are extracted, processed in parallel, and eventually integrated to guide behavior. This modular and parallel circuit architecture provides a context-flexible solution for transforming sensory input into action. (5/7)
August 25, 2025 at 9:01 AM
These results demonstrate how distinct visual features are extracted, processed in parallel, and eventually integrated to guide behavior. This modular and parallel circuit architecture provides a context-flexible solution for transforming sensory input into action. (5/7)
We investigated the morphology and neurotransmitters of functionally identified neurons and show how the identified pathways converge in the anterior hindbrain. (4/7)
August 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM
We investigated the morphology and neurotransmitters of functionally identified neurons and show how the identified pathways converge in the anterior hindbrain. (4/7)
Through brain-wide 2P calcium imaging, we identify neurons whose activity matches our model components. (3/7)
August 25, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Through brain-wide 2P calcium imaging, we identify neurons whose activity matches our model components. (3/7)
This work would not have been possible without the support of @uni-konstanz.de, @cbehav.bsky.social, @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social, @zukunftskolleg.bsky.social, @erc.europa.eu, @boehringerglobal.bsky.social, and @dfg.de. (10/10)
June 23, 2025 at 1:09 PM
This work would not have been possible without the support of @uni-konstanz.de, @cbehav.bsky.social, @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social, @zukunftskolleg.bsky.social, @erc.europa.eu, @boehringerglobal.bsky.social, and @dfg.de. (10/10)
We suggest that zebrafish phototaxis is regulated via parallel processing streams, which could be a universal implementation to change strategies depending on developmental stage, context, or internal state, making behavior flexible and goal-oriented. (9/10)
June 23, 2025 at 1:01 PM
We suggest that zebrafish phototaxis is regulated via parallel processing streams, which could be a universal implementation to change strategies depending on developmental stage, context, or internal state, making behavior flexible and goal-oriented. (9/10)
Model-based extraction of latent cognitive variables points towards potential neural correlates of the observed behavioral inversion and illustrates a novel way to explore the mechanisms of vertebrate ontogeny. (8/10)
June 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Model-based extraction of latent cognitive variables points towards potential neural correlates of the observed behavioral inversion and illustrates a novel way to explore the mechanisms of vertebrate ontogeny. (8/10)
We ran simulations with virtual fish to test the model’s prediction for brightness navigation. Our model is able to qualitatively reproduce the behavior of the real fish. (7/10)
June 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
We ran simulations with virtual fish to test the model’s prediction for brightness navigation. Our model is able to qualitatively reproduce the behavior of the real fish. (7/10)
Using these pathways, we build a library of agent-based models to predict animal behavior across stimulation conditions and in more complex environments. (6/10)
June 23, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Using these pathways, we build a library of agent-based models to predict animal behavior across stimulation conditions and in more complex environments. (6/10)
We identify three parallel pathways: averaging whole-field luminance levels (A), comparing the contrast of light levels across eyes (C), and computing eye-specific temporal derivatives (D). (5/10)
June 23, 2025 at 12:57 PM
We identify three parallel pathways: averaging whole-field luminance levels (A), comparing the contrast of light levels across eyes (C), and computing eye-specific temporal derivatives (D). (5/10)
Next, we quantified the turning behavior using a lateral brightness stimulus that is locked to the position of the fish. (4/10)
June 23, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Next, we quantified the turning behavior using a lateral brightness stimulus that is locked to the position of the fish. (4/10)
To test behavioral responses to whole-field brightness levels, we created a virtual circular gradient in which the brightness of the arena depends on the position of the fish. (3/10)
June 23, 2025 at 12:55 PM
To test behavioral responses to whole-field brightness levels, we created a virtual circular gradient in which the brightness of the arena depends on the position of the fish. (3/10)
We apply a combination of modeling and complementary phototaxis assays in virtual reality to dissect the algorithmic basis of this transition. (2/10)
June 23, 2025 at 12:48 PM
We apply a combination of modeling and complementary phototaxis assays in virtual reality to dissect the algorithmic basis of this transition. (2/10)
Larval zebrafish spend more time in the light, whereas juvenile zebrafish tend to approach darker regions. (1/10)
June 23, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Larval zebrafish spend more time in the light, whereas juvenile zebrafish tend to approach darker regions. (1/10)
For the next few months, he will move next door to the @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social to work on animal tracking software, but we are looking forward to having him back in the lab to start his master's thesis at the end of the year!
June 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM
For the next few months, he will move next door to the @mpi-animalbehav.bsky.social to work on animal tracking software, but we are looking forward to having him back in the lab to start his master's thesis at the end of the year!