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Swimming in the future already: the use of AI in zebrafish neurobehavioral research and CNS drug screening

  • Aleksander A. Eroshkin
  • , Yuxiang Jia
  • , Zhike Fu
  • , Yixuan Pang
  • , Yubo Xiao
  • , Shulei He
  • , Gan Wang
  • , Sergey L. Khatsko
  • , Aleksandr V. Zhdanov
  • , Valentina N. Perfilova
  • , Longen Yang
  • , Jiahao Cui
  • , Adam Michael Stewart
  • , Thalia M. Quintanilha
  • , Murilo S. de Abreu*
  • , Allan V. Kalueff*
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • Ural Federal University
  • Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
  • Volgograd State Medical University
  • The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium
  • Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre
  • St. Petersburg State University
  • COBRAIN Center
  • Yerevan State Medical University

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly revolutionizing biomedical research. Empowered by enhanced object recognition and modern machine learning protocols, AI tools detect subtle patterns in human and animal behavior, efficiently quantifying and classifying them using supervised and unsupervised learning approaches. Complementing rodent studies, the zebrafish (Danio rerio) represents a crucial model organism in neuroscience research with well-characterized quantifiable behaviors, high-throughput potential and high genetic, neurochemical, and neuroanatomical homology to humans. The integration of AI strategies into zebrafish neuroscience research enhances behavioral endpoint monitoring, efficient processing and interpretation of data, establishing high-throughput screens and finding critical connections among behavioral and molecular endpoints. Here, we discuss the current status of the application of AI methods in zebrafish neurobehavioral research, as well as its limitations, future research directions, and remaining open questions in the field, with a particular focus on the use of AI in behavioral analyses and neuroactive drug discovery.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)354-366
Number of pages13
JournalNeuroscience
Volume611
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Sept 2026

Keywords

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Behavior
  • Behavioral models
  • Machine learning
  • Zebrafish

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