Vocal communication is essential for the survival of many vertebrate species, yet the neural circuits that control vocalizations are only partially understood. These circuits extend across multiple brain regions, with most studies focusing on small neuronal subpopulations or isolated subregions. Dense, population-based imaging of the entire vocal motor pathway in the vertebrate brain could reveal previously unknown neuronal subtypes and elucidate the contributions of individual brain regions to vocal output.

This project aims to identify the molecular identity, connectivity, and functional specialization of the brain-wide vocal motor circuit in vertebrates. To achieve this, we are utilizing the transparent vocal fish Danionella cerebrum, which enables whole-brain imaging of neuronal activity in an adult vertebrate.
First, we will map the vocal motor nuclei in Danionella cerebrum using molecular marker staining and assays for immediate early genes, which indicate neuronal activity during vocalization. Subsequently, we will determine interregional projections using a photoactivatable neuronal tracer. These findings will form the basis for whole-brain imaging of neuronal activity along the vocal motor pathway during elicited vocalizations. Finally, we will integrate molecular, anatomical, and functional data into a comprehensive resource that will facilitate comparison with other vocal vertebrate species.

If successful, this project will provide insights into the structure and function of the brain-wide vocal motor circuit in vertebrates at the cellular level.