The functional organization of male-specific visual neurons in flies.

摘要: Intracellular recording and Lucifer yellow dye filling of male fleshflies, Sarcophaga bullata, have revealed male-specific neurons in the lobula, axons which project to origin premotor channels supplying flight motor neurons. Dendrites visit areas retinotopic mosaic supplied by retina's acute zone, is used males keep image a conspecific female centered during aerial pursuit. Only engage high-speed aerobatic chases, are suspected underlie this behavior. Physiological determination receptive fields substantiates predicted from anatomical studies demonstrates that they subtend zone. Male-specific respond manner on theoretical grounds observations tracking Such properties include directional selectivity visual motion higher sensitivity small images than wide-field motion. The present account extends neuroanatomical evidence predicts lobula comprise distinct circuit mediating tracking.