[Reactions of the directionally sensitive optical interneurons of insects to movement of a two-dimensional pattern]

Zh Evol Biokhim Fiziol. 1978 May-Jun;14(3):251-8.
[Article in Russian]

Abstract

The reactions to movements of two-dimensional patterns with the same average spatial period were compared in electrophysiological experiments. Directionally-sensitive neurons in connectives of dragonflies (fam. Libellulidae) were 1.5--2 times more sensitive to movement of "dissected" patterns (checkerboards, lattice of circles, stochastic pattern) than to vertical stripes. The power of optic signal in high-frequency domain in dissected patterns is 1.4--1.8 times higher, than in a striped pattern. It is assumed that high-frequency spatial filtering in dragonflies is provided by strong lateral inhibition in retinotopic projection. Dissected and striped patterns elicited identical reactions in directionally-sensitive neurons of the dronefly Eristalis tenax; the same was stated for the locomotory optokinetic reaction of the earty-boring dung beetle Geotrupes stercorosus.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Electrophysiology
  • Form Perception / physiology*
  • Ganglia / cytology*
  • Insecta / physiology*
  • Interneurons / physiology
  • Motion Perception / physiology*
  • Species Specificity