The role of flow and the lateral line in the multisensory guidance of orienting behaviors

Abstract

This chapter summarizes what is known about the role of lateral line flow sensors in different types of fish orienting behaviors and the spatiotemporal characteristics of flow patterns that guide fish. Where possible, fundamental and shared principles of flow guidance are identified for behaviors as diverse as rheotaxis, prey orientation, and predator avoidance. Multisensory, egocentric direction maps in the midbrain optic tectum are thought to underlie oriented movements toward discrete targets of interest (e.g., prey), whereas differential biasing of bilaterally paired Mauthner cells by multisensory inputs are involved in fast-start oriented behaviors such as predator avoidance. Wide-field integration of global flow fields inspired by optic flow studies in flies is suggested as a central mechanism by which cells are tuned to expected flow patterns over large body regions during common motion states, such as forward translational movement. Disruptions in those patterns caused by, e.g., the destabilizing influences of currents could then be used as part of closed-loop feedback control for corrective actions. Flow guidance of behaviors is likely to be best understood when viewed from a multisensory, evolutionary perspective in which nonvisual and visual systems work in tandem to guide behavior.