Abstract
We recorded from the spiking on-off unit in the first optic chiasm (between lamina and medulla) in the blowfly Calliphora vicina, and investigated its spatial properties. The receptive field extends over (11.4±0.9)° horizontally and (8.7±0.6)° vertically, i.e. about 7 by 5 interommatidial angles. The line spread function of the on-off unit — calculated from its response to moving sinusoidal gratings — has a half-width of (2.3±0.2)°. This half-width is slightly broader than that of the photoreceptor. Lateral inhibition occurs when two different areas of the receptive field are stimulated simultaneously. Fast temporal adaptation (i.e. adaptation to trains of short light pulses) takes place independently in different areas of the receptive field.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arnett DW (1971) Receptive field organization of units in the first optic ganglion of Diptera. Science 173:929–931
Arnett DW (1972) Spatial and temporal integration properties of units in first optic ganglion of dipterans. J Neurophysiol 35:429–444
Enroth-Cugell C, Robson JG (1966) The contrast sensitivity of retinal ganglion cells of the cat. J Physiol (London) 187:517–552
Hartline HK (1938) The response of single optic nerve fibers of the vertebrate eye to illumination of the retina. Am J Physiol 121:400–415
Hateren JH van (1984) Waveguide theory applied to optically measured angular sensitivities of fly photoreceptors. J Comp Physiol A 154:761–771
Hateren JH van (1990) Directional tuning curves, elementary movement detectors, and the estimation of the direction of visual movement. Vision Res 30:603–614
Hochstein S, Shapley R (1976) Quantitative analysis of retinal ganglion cell classifications. J Physiol (London) 262:237–264
Jansonius NM, Hateren JH van (1991) Fast temporal adaptation of on-off units in the first optic chiasm of the blowfly. J Comp Physiol A 168:631–637
Lennie P (1980) Parallel visual pathways: a review. Vision Res 20:561–594
Maddess T, Laughlin SB (1985) Adaptation of the movement-sensitive neuron H1 is generated locally and governed by contrast frequency. Proc R Soc Lond B 225:251–275
Osorio D (1987) The temporal properties of non-linear, transient cells in the locust medulla. J Comp Physiol A 161:431–440
Osorio D (1991) Mechanisms of early visual processing in the medulla of the locust optic lobe: how self-inhibition, spatial-pooling, and signal rectification contribute to the properties of transient cells. Visual Neurosci 7:345–355
Ruyter van Steveninck RR de, Zaagman WH, Mastebroek HAK (1986) Adaptation of transient responses of a movement-sensitive neuron in the visual system of the blowfly Calliphora erythrocephala. Biol Cybern 54:223–236
Shapley R, Gordon J (1978) The eel retina. Ganglion cell classes and spatial mechanisms. J Gen Physiol 71:139–155
Smakman JGJ, Hateren JH van, Stavenga DG (1984) Angular sensitivity of blowfly photoreceptors: intracellular measurements and wave-optical predictions. J Comp Physiol A 155:239–247
Stone J, Fabian M (1966) Specialized receptive fields of the cat's retina. Science 152:1277–1279
Victor JD, Shapley RM (1979) The non-linear pathway of Y ganglion cells in the cat retina. J Gen Physiol 74:671–689
Zettler F, Järvilehto M (1972) Lateral inhibition in an insect eye. Z Vergl Physiol 76:233–244
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jansonius, N.M., van Hateren, J.H. On-off units in the first optic chiasm of the blowfly II. Spatial properties. J Comp Physiol A 172, 467–471 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213528
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213528