Modality-specific circuits for skylight orientation in the fly visual system

Sancer, Gizem; Kind, Emil; Plazaola, H.; Balke, Jana; Pham, Tuyen Danh; Hasan, Amr; MuÌˆnch, L.; Mathejczyk, Thomas F.; Wernet, Mathias F.

doi:10.1101/638171

Cited by 12 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…We therefore posit that it is R7 signals that are responsible for the predominant response characteristics of DmDRA1 neurons, supporting our anatomical data ( Fig. 1B) and the connectivity of the DmDRA1 subtype (Sancer et al, 2019).…”

Section: Polarized Light Processing In the Medulla Dorsal Rim Areasupporting

confidence: 87%

“…1B, top left) (Courgeon and Desplan, 2019;Jenett et al, 2012). To identify which subtype expressed this driver, we co-labeled it with an established Dm8 driver (R24F06-LexA) which is known to be expressed in DmDRA1 and not DmDRA2 (Sancer et al, 2019). We found highly overlapping expression between these drivers ( Fig.…”

Section: Polarized Light Processing In the Medulla Dorsal Rim Areamentioning

confidence: 88%

“…DmDRA1 neurons appear to spatially integrate polarization signals from multiple columns of the MEDRA (Fig. 1), and individual neurons heavily overlap each other (Sancer et al, 2019). This could provide an additional robustness to occlusions of the sky or of the DRA itself and average out inconsistencies in the available light (Labhart et al, 2001;Rossel and Wehner, 1986).…”

Section: Skylight Polarization Features Extracted By the Medramentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two types of these interneurons have been anatomically characterized, DmDRA1 and DmDRA2. Individual DmDRA1 neurons span approximately ten MEDRA columns and receive input exclusively from DRA R7 photoreceptors while avoiding input from non-DRA columns (Sancer et al, 2019). DmDRA2 receives exclusive input from DRA R8 photoreceptors.…”

Section: Polarized Light Processing In the Medulla Dorsal Rim Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…DmDRA2 receives exclusive input from DRA R8 photoreceptors. Due to their contact with polarization-sensitive photoreceptors, both DmDRA subtypes are thought likely to respond to polarized light (Sancer et al, 2019). To test this, we generated a split-Gal4 driver (R13E04-AD, VT059781-DBD) for a population of DmDRA neurons (Fig.…”

Section: Polarized Light Processing In the Medulla Dorsal Rim Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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A visual pathway for skylight polarization processing inDrosophila

Hardcastle

Omoto

Kandimalla

et al. 2020

Preprint

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SUMMARYMany insects use patterns of polarized light in the sky to orient and navigate. Here we functionally characterize neural circuitry in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, that conveys polarized light signals from the eye to the central complex, a brain region essential for the fly’s sense of direction. Neurons tuned to the angle of polarization of ultraviolet light are found throughout the anterior visual pathway, connecting the optic lobes with the central complex via the anterior optic tubercle and bulb, in a homologous organization to the ‘sky compass’ pathways described in other insects. We detail how a consistent, map-like organization of neural tunings in the peripheral visual system is transformed into a reduced representation suited to flexible processing in the central brain. This study identifies computational motifs of the transformation, enabling mechanistic comparisons of multisensory integration and central processing for navigation in the brains of insects.

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Section: Polarized Light Processing In the Medulla Dorsal Rim Areasupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Polarized Light Processing In the Medulla Dorsal Rim Areamentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Skylight Polarization Features Extracted By the Medramentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Polarized Light Processing In the Medulla Dorsal Rim Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Polarized Light Processing In the Medulla Dorsal Rim Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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A visual pathway for skylight polarization processing inDrosophila

Hardcastle

Omoto

Kandimalla

et al. 2020

Preprint

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The brain of Cataglyphis ants: Neuronal organization and visual projections

Habenstein

Amini

Grübel

et al. 2020

J of Comparative Neurology

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Cataglyphis ants are known for their outstanding navigational abilities. They return to their inconspicuous nest after far‐reaching foraging trips using path integration, and whenever available, learn and memorize visual features of panoramic sceneries. To achieve this, the ants combine directional visual information from celestial cues and panoramic scenes with distance information from an intrinsic odometer. The largely vision‐based navigation in Cataglyphis requires sophisticated neuronal networks to process the broad repertoire of visual stimuli. Although Cataglyphis ants have been subjected to many neuroethological studies, little is known about the general neuronal organization of their central brain and the visual pathways beyond major circuits. Here, we provide a comprehensive, three‐dimensional neuronal map of synapse‐rich neuropils in the brain of Cataglyphis nodus including major connecting fiber systems. In addition, we examined neuronal tracts underlying the processing of visual information in more detail. This study revealed a total of 33 brain neuropils and 30 neuronal fiber tracts including six distinct tracts between the optic lobes and the cerebrum. We also discuss the importance of comparative studies on insect brain architecture for a profound understanding of neuronal networks and their function.

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3D‐atlas of the brain of the cockroach Rhyparobia maderae

Althaus

Jahn

Massah

et al. 2022

J of Comparative Neurology

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The Madeira cockroach Rhyparobia maderae is a nocturnal insect and a prominent model organism for the study of circadian rhythms. Its master circadian clock, controlling circadian locomotor activity and sleep-wake cycles, is located in the accessory medulla of the optic lobe. For a better understanding of brain regions controlled by the circadian clock and brain organization of this insect in general, we created a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of all neuropils of the cerebral ganglia based on anti-synapsin and anti-γ-aminobutyric acid immunolabeling of whole mount brains.Forty-nine major neuropils were identified and three-dimensionally reconstructed.Single-cell dye fills complement the data and provide evidence for distinct subdivisions of certain brain areas. Most neuropils defined in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster could be distinguished in the cockroach as well. However, some neuropils identified in the fruit fly do not exist as distinct entities in the cockroach while others are lacking in the fruit fly. In addition to neuropils, major fiber systems, tracts, and commissures were reconstructed and served as important landmarks separating brain areas. Being a nocturnal insect, R. maderae is an important new species to the growing collection of 3D insect brain atlases and only the second hemimetabolous insect, for which a detailed 3D brain atlas is available. This atlas will be highly valuable for an evolutionary comparison of insect brain organization and will greatly facilitate addressing brain areas that are supervised by the circadian clock.

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Modality-specific circuits for skylight orientation in the fly visual system

Cited by 12 publications

References 65 publications

A visual pathway for skylight polarization processing inDrosophila

A visual pathway for skylight polarization processing inDrosophila

The brain of Cataglyphis ants: Neuronal organization and visual projections

3D‐atlas of the brain of the cockroach Rhyparobia maderae

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