Details:

Alternative Title:
Curr Biol
Publisher's site:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2012.01.007
Personal Author:
de Vries, Saskia E. J. ; Clandinin, Thomas R. ;
de Vries, Saskia E. J. ; Clandinin, Thomas R. ; Less -
Description:
Background Many animals extract specific cues from rich visual scenes to guide appropriate behaviors. Such cues include visual motion signals produced both by self movement and by moving objects in the environment. The complexity of these signals requires neural circuits to link particular patterns of motion to specific behavioral responses. Results Through electrophysiological recordings, we characterize genetically identified neurons in the optic lobe of Drosophila that are specifically tuned to detect motion signals produced by looming objects on a collision course with the fly. Using a genetic manipulation to specifically silence these neurons, we demonstrate that signals from these cells are important for flies to efficiently initiate the loom escape response. Moreover, through targeted expression of Channelrhodopsin in these cells, in flies that are blind, we reveal that optogenetic stimulation of these neurons is typically sufficient to elicit escape, even in the absence of any visual stimulus. Conclusions In this compact nervous system, a small group of neurons that extract a specific visual cue from local motion inputs serve to trigger the ethologically appropriate behavioral response.
Subject:
[+]
Animals
Article
Cues
Drosophila
Drosophila Proteins
Electrophysiology
Motion Perception
Movement
Nervous System
Neurons
Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian
Photic Stimulation
Rhodopsin
Vision, Ocular

Source:
Curr Biol. 2012; 22(5):353-362.
Pubmed ID:
22305754
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC3298569
Document Type:
Journal Article ;
Funding:
DP0035350/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; DP1 OD003530/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; DP1 OD003530-01/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; DP1 OD003530-02/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; DP1 OD003530-03/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; ... More +
DP0035350/DP/NCCDPHP CDC HHS/United States ; DP1 OD003530/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; DP1 OD003530-01/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; DP1 OD003530-02/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; DP1 OD003530-03/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; DP1 OD003530-04/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; DP1 OD003530-05/OD/NIH HHS/United States ; Less -
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:f594f3af4505127bde2a07d87d9910389538934bc8d35b349e91dfe6f4964912
File Type:

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