Understanding how the brain functions is one of the most ambitious current scientific goals. This challenge will only be accomplish by a multidisciplinary approach involving genetics, molecular biology, optics, ethology, neurobiology and mathematics and using tractable model systems. The zebrafish larva is a transparent genetically tractable small vertebrate, ideal for the combination state-of-the- art imaging techniques (e.g. two-photon scanning microscopy, single-plane illumination microscopy, spatial light modulator microscopy and lightfield microscopy), bioluminiscence and optogenetics to monitor and manipulate neuronal activity from single specific neurons up to the entire brain, in an intact behaving organism. Furthermore, the zebrafish model offers large and increasing collection of mutant and transgenic lines modelling human brain diseases. With these advantages in hand, the zebrafish larva became in the recent years, a novel animal model to study neuronal circuits and behaviour, taking us closer than ever before to understand how the brain controls behaviour.

After securing popularity in home aquariums, zebrafish have also become an essential animal for biomedical research. Ensuring they are adequately cared for in research settings is therefore of the utmost importance and this book is designed to help laboratories develop good welfare and husbandry practices, refine procedural protocols and engage with ethical obligations. A wide range of topics are addressed, starting with husbandry aspects such as environmental enrichment, nutrition, housing conditions, diseases, health monitoring, biosecurity and larval rearing. More experimental topics are then discussed, such as genotyping, ageing, imaging, behavioural studies, experimental design and statistics. Ethical challenges are also considered through the environmental impact of aquatic facilities and the 3Rs - Replacement, Reduction and Refinement - with a focus on anaesthesia, analgesia, euthanasia and severity assessment. This book is written for zebrafish facility personnel and for researchers who are aware of the need for robust care for their zebrafish model. It also provides an unparalleled insight for ethics committee members with the intention to provide the best care possible for this ever-important fish.

Using the most well-studied behavioral analyses of animal subjects to promote a better understanding of the effects of disease and the effects of new therapeutic treatments on human cognition, Methods of Behavior Analysis in Neuroscience provides a reference manual for molecular and cellular research scientists in both academia and the pharmaceutic

Handbook of Sleep Research, Volume 30, provides a comprehensive review of the current status of the neuroscience of sleep research. It begins with an overview of the neural, hormonal and genetic mechanisms of sleep and wake regulation before outlining the various proposed functions of sleep and the role it plays in plasticity, and in learning and memory. Finally, the book discusses disorders of sleep and waking, covering both lifestyle factors that cause disrupted sleep and psychiatric and neurological conditions that contribute to disorders. - Emphasizes a comparative and multidisciplinary approach to the topic of sleep - Covers the neurobiology and physiology of sleep stages, mechanisms of waking, and dreaming - Discusses in detail the proposed functions of sleep, from health and rest, to memory consolidation and synaptic plasticity - Examines the current state of research in mammalian and non-mammalian species, ranging from primates to invertebrates

Essential Fish Biology provides an introductory overview of the functional biology of fish and how this may be affected by the widely contrasting habitat conditions within the aquatic environment. It describes the recent advances in comparative animal physiology which have greatly influenced our understanding of fish function as well as generating questions that have yet to be resolved. Fish taxa represent the largest number of vertebrates, with over 25,000 extant species. However, much of our knowledge, apart from taxonomy and habitat descriptions, has been based on relatively few of them , usually those which live in fresh water and/or are of commercial interest. Unfortunately there has also been a tendency to base our interpretation of fish physiology on that of mammalian systems, as well as to rely on a few type species of fish. This accessible textbook will redress the balance by using examples of fish from a wide range of species and habitats, emphasizing diversity as well as recognizing shared attributes with other vertebrates.

Comprehensive Toxicology, Third Edition, Fifteen Volume Set discusses chemical effects on biological systems, with a focus on understanding the mechanisms by which chemicals induce adverse health effects. Organized by organ system, this comprehensive reference work addresses the toxicological effects of chemicals on the immune system, the hematopoietic system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, hepatic toxicology, renal toxicology, gastrointestinal toxicology, reproductive and endocrine toxicology, neuro and behavioral toxicology, developmental toxicology and carcinogenesis, also including critical sections that cover the general principles of toxicology, cellular and molecular toxicology, biotransformation and toxicology testing and evaluation. Each section is examined in state-of-the-art chapters written by domain experts, providing key information to support the investigations of researchers across the medical, veterinary, food, environment and chemical research industries, and national and international regulatory agencies. Thoroughly revised and expanded to 15 volumes that include the latest advances in research, and uniquely organized by organ system for ease of reference and diagnosis, this new edition is an essential reference for researchers of toxicology. Organized to cover both the fundamental principles of toxicology and unique aspects of major organ systems Thoroughly revised to include the latest advances in the toxicological effects of chemicals on the immune system Features additional coverage throughout and a new volume on toxicology of the hematopoietic system Presents in-depth, comprehensive coverage from an international author base of domain experts

In order to focus on principles, each chapter in this work is brief, organized around 1-3 wiring diagrams of the key circuits, with several pages of text that distil the functional significance of each microcircuit

This book offers representative examples from fly and mouse models to illustrate the ongoing success of the synergistic, state-of-the-art strategy, focusing on the ways it enhances our understanding of sensory processing. The authors focus on sensory systems (vision, olfaction), which are particularly powerful models for probing the development, connectivity, and function of neural circuits, to answer this question: How do individual nerve cells functionally cooperate to guide behavioral responses? Two genetically tractable species, mice and flies, together significantly further our understanding of these processes. Current efforts focus on integrating knowledge gained from three interrelated fields of research: (1) understanding how the fates of different cell types are specified during development, (2) revealing the synaptic connections between identified cell types (“connectomics”) using high-resolution three-dimensional circuit anatomy, and (3) causal testing of how iden tified circuit elements contribute to visual perception and behavior.

Animal models have traditionally played a crucial role in improving our understanding of brain pathogenesis. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have generated considerable discoveries in the areas of genetics, embryology, endocrinology, and neuroscience. Zebrafish Models in Neurobehavioral Research emphasizes the growing importance of zebrafish in neurobehavioral research and portrays an extensive, thorough perspective on the emergence of zebrafish as robust and translational models. Written by leading international experts, the book covers major topics ranging from stress to learned recognition of environment, encompassing a wide spectrum of the utility of zebrafish within neurobiological disciplines. The chapters provide authoritative reviews of many zebrafish paradigms commonly used in the field today. This book will be a useful guide for zebrafish researchers, and will complement another related book from the popular Neuromethods series, Zebrafish Neurobehavioral Protocols. Comprehensive and up-to-date, Zebrafish Models in Neurobehavioral Research serves as an ideal resource for scientists new to the field as well as for established researchers seeking valuable insight into the growing utility of zebrafish in neuroscience.

This book encourages readers to view similarities and differences in various species as fundamental to a comprehensive understanding of nervous systems.