Behavioral algorithms of ontogenetic switching in larval and juvenile zebrafish phototaxis.

Overview

1. Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78464, Germany
2. Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78464, Germany
3. Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz, Konstanz 78464, Germany
4. International Max Planck Research School for Quantitative Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution (IMPRS/QBEE), Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell 78315, Germany

Abstract

Animals undergo major behavioral adjustments during ontogeny, but how the underlying cognitive algorithms change during this process remains elusive. Here, we describe that zebrafish shift from light-seeking to dark-seeking as they grow from larval to juvenile stage. Combining complementary phototaxis assays in virtual reality and modeling, we dissect the computational basis of this transition. We identify three parallel pathways, one analyzing ambient whole-field luminance levels, one spatially comparing light levels across the eyes, and one computing luminance change in each eye. Larvae mostly use the latter two computations, whereas juveniles largely employ the first one. Using a library of agent-based models, we predict behavior in more complex environments. Model-based extraction of latent cognitive variables suggests potential neural correlates of this behavioral inversion. We suggest that zebrafish phototaxis is regulated via parallel processing streams, which could be a universal mechanism for adjusting behavior depending on developmental stage, context, or internal state.

Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.

Code

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The paper's code and data availability statement is in the Data section.

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Data

No dataset and no data link were found in the paper.

Data and code availability

All data associated with this manuscript are publicly available on the persistent repository platform KonDATA with the identifier https://doi.org/10.48606/sb32fkvwj5avwhbr.

The code for simulations and data analysis is available on the persistent repository platform KonDATA with the identifier https://doi.org/10.48606/m9v18p3c6cb7k77q.

Any additional information required to reanalyze the data reported in this study is available from the lead contact upon request.

Reproduced under the paper's license (CC BY), from the paper cited above.

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Version 2, 28 September 2026

• Authors: added Armin Bahl (0000-0001-7591-5860); removed Armin Bahl

Version 1, 27 September 2026: the first record

Recorded: type, language, journal, volume, issue, pages, dates, 4 authors, 4 keywords, 5 funders, 55 references, 2 RRIDs.

Cite

This paper

Capelle, M. Q., Slangewal, K., Eleftheriadis, P. E., & Bahl, A. (2026). Behavioral algorithms of ontogenetic switching in larval and juvenile zebrafish phototaxis. iScience, 29(6), 116190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2026.116190

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