The intricate interplay between the brain and heart significantly impacts physical and mental well-being. Despite its critical role in emotional regulation, autonomic nervous system balance, and decision-making, the molecular and circuit-level mechanisms underlying heart-to-brain signaling remain incompletely understood. We aim to unravel part of this complex inter-organ signaling using larval zebrafish (ZF) as a model. We will capitalize on this model’s optical transparency, rapid cardiovascular development, and the availability of genetic tools to non-invasively record and manipulate neuronal activity in specific neuronal subsets during ongoing behavior. We will combine large-scale imaging and optogenetic approaches to investigate how sensory vagal ganglia sense and encode cardiac output. A comprehensive exploration of the neuronal responses across the entire larval ZF brain will map the networks responsive to heart rate changes and examine the integration of cardiac information with other sensory modalities. Finally, twophoton laser ablation targeting sensory ganglia of the vagus nerve will assess its causal role in conveying heart output information to the brain. This research, addressing molecular, cellular, and circuit levels, promises insights into the vertebrate heart-brain axis with potential implications for human health and disease.

Project start from 01 April 2025!