Protocol for quantitative analysis of adult zebrafish swimming behavior using DeepLabCut
Here, we present a protocol for quantifying adult zebrafish swimming behavior using open-source software. We describe steps for recording and preprocessing swimming behavior videos, labeling and training a DeepLabCut network, and applying the trained model to analyze behavior. We then detail procedures for processing and visualizing behavioral data. This protocol is optimized for single-fish tracking under standardized recording conditions and can be completed using beginner-level computational skills with basic laboratory hardware.
Authors
- Pramuk Keerthisinghe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7910-7868)
- Aditya Basak
- Anwarul Karim
- James P. Orengo
Institutions
- Baylor College of Medicine (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- STAR Protocols
- Published
- 2026-02-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2026.104374
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 23.07