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Polarization-opponent interneurons in the insect visual system

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Abstract

Recent behavioural experiments dealing with the mechanism of polarized skylight navigation in bees indicated that processing of e-vector information in the visual system involves antagonistic interaction between polarization-sensitive photoreceptors1,2. Here we report electrophysiological recordings from polarization-opponent interneurons in the optic lobe of crickets. These neurons receive antagonistic input from polarization sensitive photoreceptors with orthogonally arranged analyser orientations. Although polarization-sensitive interneurons have previously been reported from the visual system of crabs3 and goldfish4,5, this is the first demonstration of polarization-opponent units.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologisches Institut der Universität Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Zürich, Switzerland

    Thomas Labhart

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  1. Thomas Labhart
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Labhart, T. Polarization-opponent interneurons in the insect visual system. Nature 331, 435–437 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/331435a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/331435a0

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