Understanding zebrafish cognition

Darya A Meshalkina; Marina N Kizlyk; Elana V Kysil; Adam D Collier; David J Echevarria; Murilo S Abreu; Leonardo J G Barcellos; Cai Song; Allan V Kalueff

doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2016.11.020

Understanding zebrafish cognition

Behav Processes. 2017 Aug;141(Pt 2):229-241. doi: 10.1016/j.beproc.2016.11.020. Epub 2016 Dec 2.

Authors

Darya A Meshalkina¹, Marina N Kizlyk¹, Elana V Kysil¹, Adam D Collier², David J Echevarria³, Murilo S Abreu⁴, Leonardo J G Barcellos⁵, Cai Song⁶, Allan V Kalueff⁷

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia.
² Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA.
³ Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, USA; The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA.
⁴ Graduate Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, 1000, University City, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil.
⁵ The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; Graduate Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Av. Roraima, 1000, University City, Camobi, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil; Graduate Program in Bioexperimentation, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), BR 285, Passo Fundo, RS 99052-900, Brazil.
⁶ Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 330001, China; Graduate Institute of Neural and Cognitive Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 000001, Taiwan.
⁷ Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034, Russia; The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC), 309 Palmer Court, Slidell, LA 70458, USA; Institute for Marine Drugs and Nutrition, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 330001, China; Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg 620002, Russia; Neuropharmacology Laboratory, ZENEREI Research Center, Slidell, LA 70458, USA. Electronic address: avkalueff@gmail.com.

PMID: 27919782
DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2016.11.020

Abstract

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are rapidly becoming a popular model organism in translational and cognitive neuroscience research. Both larval and adult zebrafish continue to increase our understanding of cognitive mechanisms and their genetic and pharmacological modulation. Here, we discuss the developing utility of zebrafish in understanding cognitive phenotypes and their deficits, relevant to a wide range human brain disorders. We also discuss the potential of zebrafish models for high-throughput genetic mutant and small molecule screening (e.g., amnestics, cognitive enhancers, neurodevelopmental/neurodegenerative drugs), which becomes critical for identifying novel candidate genes and molecular drug targets to treat cognitive deficits. In addition to discussing the existing challenges and future strategic directions in this field, we emphasize how zebrafish models of cognitive phenotypes continue to form an interesting and rapidly emerging new field in neuroscience.

Keywords: Cognition; Cognitive deficits; Cognitive tasks; Experimental models; Human cognitive disorders; Zebrafish.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Cognition / physiology*
Cognition Disorders / physiopathology*
Disease Models, Animal
Phenotype*
Zebrafish