Phototransduction and circuitry underlying phototaxis

Characterize the pathways by which opsin-mediated light signals are transduced, integrated, and transformed into phototaxis behavior in Hypsibius exemplaris, identifying the neurons and synaptic circuits involved.

Background

Tardigrades possess two eyespots and multiple opsins, suggesting functional vision and potential stereovision. The paper explicitly states that the link from light detection to phototactic behavior is unknown.

Resolving this will illuminate how compact visual systems implement directional navigation and how visual inputs are integrated with other sensory modalities.