A look into the cockpit of the fly: visual orientation, algorithms, and identified neurons

摘要: The top-down approach to understanding brain function seeks account for the behavior of an animal in terms biophysical properties nerve cells and synaptic interactions via a series progressively reductive levels explanation. Using fly as model system, this was pioneered by Werner Reichardt his colleagues late 1950s. Quantitative input-output analyses led them formal algorithms that related input fly's eye orientation animal. But it has been possible only recently track down implementation part these computations performed individual neurons small neuronal ensembles. Thus, visually guided flight maneuvers have turned out be one few cases which feasible reach mechanisms underlying complex behavioral performance at successively analysis. These recent findings illuminate some fundamental questions are being debated computational neuroscience (Marr Poggio, 1977; Sejnowski et al., 1988; Churchland Sejnowski, 1992): (1) Are functions emergent present systems level? (2) Does level help cellular subcellular (3) Can different organization understood independently each other? In review we concentrate on two basic tasks solved fly, well many other moving animals: stabilization intended course against disturbances deviations from straight order orient toward salient objecs. Performing depends extraction motion information changing distribution light intensity received eyes.