Electrostimulation-Based Motor Response Mapping for Fish Brain Atlas Construction

Animal robotics technology utilizes neural signal decoding techniques, such as invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) electrical stimulation, to achieve motor control in animals. Fish, as vertebrates with exceptional swimming capabilities, present a promising platform for integrating animal physiology with BCI technology to develop novel underwater robots capable of sensing, decision-making, and actuation. To address the current limitations of fish-based robots including limited stimulation targets and inaccurate stimulation localization, this study investigates the locomotor response patterns of fish under fixed stimulation parameters through invasive electrical stimulation experiments, establishing a brain atlas for motor control in fish. The brain atlas delineates the midbrain regions responsible for controlling tail undulation, dorsal fin movement, and eye movement. To validate the accuracy of this atlas, in vivo electrical stimulation experiments were conducted on freely swimming fish under varying voltage amplitudes, successfully eliciting steering maneuvers and burst swimming motions. By constructing a functional brain map for motor control, this study provides precise spatial targeting data for electrical stimulation-based control of fish locomotion, demonstrating the feasibility of BCI technology as a control framework for animal robotics. These findings advance the development of biohybrid underwater systems and highlight the potential of neurostimulation in bridging biological and robotic functionalities.