Polarization-sensitive neurons in the central complex of crickets - how does the CNS code orientation?

Sakura, Midori; Lambrinos, Dimitrios; Labhart, Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.cbpb.2006.10.018

Cited by 2 publications

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“…In the case of polarized skylight detected by the DRA, a neuronal “compass” pathway was reconstructed, leading from the DRA ommatidia to the central complex, via an optic glomerulus called the anterior optic tubercle (Homberg et al, 2011 ; Homberg, 2015 ). Over the past decades, work in this field has provided exciting insight into how e-vectors are detected and processed into polarization-opponent signals that become modulated with respect to the time of day (in a process referred to time compensation), ultimately lading to a map-like representation of different e-vectors within columnar structures of the central complex (Sakura et al, 2006 ; Heinze and Homberg, 2007 ; Kinoshita et al, 2007 ; Heinze and Reppert, 2011 ; Homberg et al, 2011 ; el Jundi et al, 2015 ). Considering this high degree of detail, it is quite shocking that virtually nothing is known about the neural circuits processing polarized reflections detected by specialized ommatidia in the ventral periphery of the insect retina.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insect Responses to Linearly Polarized Reflections: Orphan Behaviors Without Neural Circuits

Heinloth

Uhlhorn

Wernet

2018

Front. Cell. Neurosci.

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The e-vector orientation of linearly polarized light represents an important visual stimulus for many insects. Especially the detection of polarized skylight by many navigating insect species is known to improve their orientation skills. While great progress has been made towards describing both the anatomy and function of neural circuit elements mediating behaviors related to navigation, relatively little is known about how insects perceive non-celestial polarized light stimuli, like reflections off water, leaves, or shiny body surfaces. Work on different species suggests that these behaviors are not mediated by the “Dorsal Rim Area” (DRA), a specialized region in the dorsal periphery of the adult compound eye, where ommatidia contain highly polarization-sensitive photoreceptor cells whose receptive fields point towards the sky. So far, only few cases of polarization-sensitive photoreceptors have been described in the ventral periphery of the insect retina. Furthermore, both the structure and function of those neural circuits connecting to these photoreceptor inputs remain largely uncharacterized. Here we review the known data on non-celestial polarization vision from different insect species (dragonflies, butterflies, beetles, bugs and flies) and present three well-characterized examples for functionally specialized non-DRA detectors from different insects that seem perfectly suited for mediating such behaviors. Finally, using recent advances from circuit dissection in Drosophila melanogaster, we discuss what types of potential candidate neurons could be involved in forming the underlying neural circuitry mediating non-celestial polarization vision.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insect Responses to Linearly Polarized Reflections: Orphan Behaviors Without Neural Circuits

Heinloth

Uhlhorn

Wernet

2018

Front. Cell. Neurosci.

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The molecular basis of mechanisms underlying polarization vision

Roberts

Porter

Cronin

2011

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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The underlying mechanisms of polarization sensitivity (PS) have long remained elusive. For rhabdomeric photoreceptors, questions remain over the high levels of PS measured experimentally. In ciliary photoreceptors, and specifically cones, little direct evidence supports any type of mechanism. In order to promote a greater interest in these fundamental aspects of polarization vision, we examined a varied collection of studies linking membrane biochemistry, protein -protein interactions, molecular ordering and membrane phase behaviour. While initially these studies may seem unrelated to polarization vision, a common narrative emerges. A surprising amount of evidence exists demonstrating the importance of protein -protein interactions in both rhabdomeric and ciliary photoreceptors, indicating the possible long-range ordering of the opsin protein for increased PS. Moreover, we extend this direction by considering how such protein paracrystalline organization arises in all cell types from controlled membrane phase behaviour and propose a universal pathway for PS to occur in both rhabdomeric and cone photoreceptors.

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Polarization-sensitive neurons in the central complex of crickets - how does the CNS code orientation?

Cited by 2 publications

References 0 publications

Insect Responses to Linearly Polarized Reflections: Orphan Behaviors Without Neural Circuits

Insect Responses to Linearly Polarized Reflections: Orphan Behaviors Without Neural Circuits

The molecular basis of mechanisms underlying polarization vision

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