Separate brainstem circuits for fast steering and slow exploratory turns

作者：Lulu Xu, Bing Zhu, Zhiqiang Zhu, Xingyu Tao, Tianrui Zhang, Abdeljabbar El Manira, Jianren Song · 发表于：Nature Communications · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1038/s41467-025-58621-9 · 被引用次数：8 · 研究领域：Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research、Neural dynamics and brain function、Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications

Locomotion requires precise tuning of descending commands to scale turning movements, such as rapid steering during prey pursuit or shallow turns during exploration. We show that these two turn types are governed by distinct brainstem circuits. The rapid steering circuit involves excitatory V2a and inhibitory commissural V0d neurons, distributed across different brainstem nuclei. These neurons are coupled via gap junctions and activated simultaneously, ensuring rapid steering through asymmetrical activation of spinal motor neurons. The recruitment of this circuit correlates more with the degree of direction change than with locomotor frequency. Steering neurons are, in turn, controlled by a subset of V2a neurons in the pretectum, activated by salient visual input. In contrast, slow exploratory turns are governed by a separate set of V2a neurons confined to fewer brainstem nuclei. These findings reveal a modular organization of brainstem circuits that selectively control rapid steering and slow exploratory turning during locomotion.