Abstract
The visually controlled height orientation of fixed flying flies (Musca domestica) was investigated. The flight lift force measured by a transducer drives the vertical motion of a panorama. The dynamical conditions of the free flight are electronically simulated for the fly with respect to this degree of freedom of motion. In most of the experimentally investigated cases the panorama consists of a horizontally oriented narrow dark stripe on a bright background. The fly orientates with respect to the stripe, transporting it into a stable fixation position just below the equatorial plane of its compound eyes. It is experimentally demonstrated that the formalism of the linearized theory of the pattern induced flight orientation — Poggio and Reichardt (1973a) — can be applied to describe the height orientation of the fly. The experimental evidence concerning the simultaneous perception of stripes moving in a well defined manner in front of each of the two compound eyes is consistent with the hypothesis that the two halves of the visual system are perceptually additive.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beersma, D.G.M.: In preparation
Braintenberg, V., Hauser-Holschuh, H.: Patterns of projection in the visual system of the fly. II. Quantitative aspects of second order neurons in relation to models of movement perception. Exp. Brain Res. 16, 184–209 (1972)
Geiger, G.: Optomotor response of the fly Musca domestica to transient stimuli of edges and stripes. Kybernetik 16, 37–43 (1974)
Geiger, G., Poggio, T.: The orientation of flies towards visual patterns. Biol. Cybernetics (1975) in press
Götz, K.G.: Optomotorische Untersuchungen des visuellen Systems einiger Augenmutanten der Fruchtfliege Drosophila. Kybernetik 2, 77–92 (1964)
Götz, K.G.: Flight control in Drosophila by visual perception of motion. Kybernetik 4, 199–208 (1968)
Kirmse, W., Lässig, P.: Strukturanalogie zwischen dem System der horizontalen Blickbewegungen der Augen beim Menschen und dem System der Blickbewegungen des Kopfes bei Insekten mit Fixationsreaktionen. Biol. Zbl. 2, 176–193 (1971)
Kirschfeld, K.: Die Projektion der optischen Umwelt auf das Raster der Rhabdomere im Komplexauge von Musca. Exp. Brain Res. 3, 248–270 (1967)
Land, M.F.: Head movement of flies during visually guided flight. Nature (Lond.) 243, 299 (1973)
Land, M.F., Collett, T.S.: Chasing behaviour of houseflies (Fannia canicularis): A description and analysis. J. comp. Physiol. 89, 331–357 (1974)
Pick, B.: Visual flicker induces orientation behavior in the fly Musca. Z. Naturforschung 29c, 310–312 (1974)
Pick, B.: Das stationäre Orientierungsverhalten der Fliege Musca. Dissertation Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen (1974)
Poggio, T.: Processing of visual information in flies: From a phenomenological model towards the nervous mechanisms. I. Meeting Ital. Biophys. Soc. (1974). Tipo-Lito. Parma (1974)
Poggio, T., Reichardt, W.: A theory of the pattern induced flight orientation of the fly Musca domestica. Kybernetik 12, 185–203 (1973a)
Poggio, T., Reichardt, W.: Considerations on models of movement detection. Kybernetik 13, 223–227 (1973b)
Reichardt, W.: The insect eye as a model for analysis of uptake, transduction and processing of optical data in the nervous system. In: The Neurosciences: Second Study Program. (Ed.) F.O. Schmitt. 494–511 New York: Rockefeller University Press 1970
Reichardt, W.: Musterinduzierte Flugorientierung. Verhaltens-Versuche an der Fliege Musca domestica. Naturwissenschaften 60, 122–138 (1973)
Reichardt, W.: Systemanalytische Verhaltensforschung. In: Lehrbuch der Biophysik. (Hrsg.) Hoppe, Lohmann, Markl, Ziegler. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1975
Reichardt, W., Wenking, H.: Optical detection and fixation of objects by fixed flying flies. Naturwissenschaften 56, 424–425 (1969)
Reichardt, W., Poggio, T.: A theory of the pattern induced flight orientation of the fly Musca domestica II. Biol. Cybernetics 18, 69–80 (1975)
Virsik, R.: Verhaltensstudie der visuellen Fixierung bewegter Objekte durch die Fliege Musca domestica. Dissertation, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen (1974)
Virsik, R., Reichardt. W.: Tracking of moving objects by the fly, Musca domestica. Naturwissenschaften 61, 132–133 (1974)
Wehrhahn, C., Reichardt, W.: Visual orientation of the fly Musca domestica towards a horizontal stripe. Naturwissenschaften 60, 203–204 (1973)
Wehrhahn, C.: Evidence for the role of retinal receptors 7/8 in the orientation behaviour of the fly Musca. In preparation (1975)
Zimmermann, G.: Der Einfluss stehender und bewegter Musteranteile auf die optomotorische Reaktion der Fliege Drosophila. Dissertation, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wehrhahn, C., Reichardt, W. Visually induced height orientation of the fly Musca domestica . Biol. Cybernetics 20, 37–50 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00350998
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00350998