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Directionally selective cells in the locust medulla

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Summary

Intracellular recordings of a distinctive class of directionally selective cell from the medulla of the locust,Locusta migratoria, optic lobe are described. Dye marking shows that these cells arborize in the distal part of the medulla, and project through the lobula complex. The cells are excited by upward movement and have receptive fields of about 20° in diameter. They are sensitive to a wide range of angular velocities from 0.02°/s to over 200°/s. The cells are sensitive to stationary flicker and have different latencies to dimming and brightening. Evidence is presented which suggests that directional computation depends, at least in part, on an inhibitory interaction between flicker sensitive channels.

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  1. D. Osorio

    Present address: Zoology Department, Cambridge University, Downing St., CB2 3EJ, Cambridge, England

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, P.O. Box 475, 2601, ACT, Australia

    D. Osorio

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  1. D. Osorio
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Osorio, D. Directionally selective cells in the locust medulla. J. Comp. Physiol. 159, 841–847 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00603737

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00603737

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