Motion detection in flies: parametric control over ON-OFF pathways

Exp Brain Res. 1984;54(2):390-4. doi: 10.1007/BF00236243.

Abstract

Microscopic illumination of two neighbouring photoreceptor cells within a single ommatidium induces a strong sequence-dependent response in a directionally selective, motion-sensitive neuron. The response is characterized by a strong facilitation in the preferred direction and a weaker inhibition in the reverse direction. The data suggest that for each direction of apparent movement the signal from an ON-OFF pathway is released into the neuron via a parametric control mechanism which is activated by an adjacent channel.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Female
  • Ganglia / cytology
  • Houseflies / physiology*
  • Motion Perception / physiology*
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Photoreceptor Cells / physiology
  • Visual Pathways / physiology*