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https://hdl.handle.net/2440/46250
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Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Sexual dimorphism in the hoverfly motion vision pathway |
Author: | Nordstrom, K. Barnett, P. Moyer, I. Brinkworth, R. O'Carroll, D. |
Citation: | Current Biology, 2008; 18(9):661-667 |
Publisher: | Dell Press |
Issue Date: | 2008 |
ISSN: | 0960-9822 1879-0445 |
Statement of Responsibility: | Karin Nordström, Paul D. Barnett, Irene M. Moyer de Miguel, Russell S.A. Brinkworth, and David C. O'Carroll |
Abstract: | Many insects perform high-speed aerial maneuvers in which they navigate through visually complex surrounds. Among insects, hoverflies stand out, with males switching from stationary hovering to high-speed pursuit at extreme angular velocities [1]. In dipterans, 50-60 large interneurons -- the lobula-plate tangential cells (LPTCs) -- detect changes in optic flow experienced during flight [2-5]. It has been predicted that large LPTC receptive fields are a requirement of accurate "matched filters" of optic flow [6]. Whereas many fly taxa have three horizontal system (HS) LPTC neurons in each hemisphere, hoverflies have four [7], possibly reflecting the more sophisticated flight behavior. We here show that the most dorsal hoverfly neuron (HS north [HSN]) is sexually dimorphic, with the male receptive field substantially smaller than in females or in either sex of blowflies. The (hoverfly-specific) HSN equatorial (HSNE) is, however, sexually isomorphic. Using complex optic flow, we show that HSN, despite its smaller receptive field, codes yaw velocity as well as HSNE. Responses to a target moving against a plain or textured background suggest that the male HSN could potentially play a role in target pursuit under some conditions. |
Keywords: | Neurons Animals Diptera Motion Perception Sex Characteristics Flight, Animal Female Male Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian |
Description: | Copyright © 2008 Cell Press |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.cub.2008.03.061 |
Published version: | http://www.current-biology.com/content/article/abstract?uid=PIIS0960982208005204 |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest Physiology publications |
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