Even at just five days old, baby zebrafish are fast learners — especially when their lives depend on it. A recent study in Current Biology reveals that larval zebrafish can notice and steer clear of predators after just one brief contact

Using a robotic predator, researchers found that within 60 seconds of exposure to a moving threat, the tiny fish connected it to danger and adopted abiding avoidance behaviors.

Brain scans revealed that this rapid learning is driven by noradrenergic neurons and key forebrain circuits, including the habenula and telencephalon. When scientists fragment these regions, the fish lose their ability to learn. This displays evidence of their critical role in early threat detection.

The study results suggest that even in their earliest days, vertebrates’ instinct for survival is inherent.

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