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The spatial integration of signals in the retina and lamina of the fly compound eye under different conditions of luminance

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Summary

The receptive fields of receptor cells and one class of first order interneurons have been investigated using several methods.

  1. 1.

    The spatial modulation transfer function (MTF) has been measured intracellularly from photoreceptors (R1–6) and one class of first order interneurons (LMC's) in the fliesMusca domestica, Lucilia sericata andCalliphora stygia (R1–6: Figs. 2–4; LMC's: Figs. 5–7). Moving sine wave gratings of 25 different spatial frequencies were used to stimulate the cells.

  2. 2.

    The angular sensitivity function corresponding to each MTF was computed by taking the inverse Fourier transform. All cells have a higher sensitivity to light from wide angles than is expected of a Gaussian of the same half width (Fig. 4). No significant changes in the angular sensitivity function of receptor cells are observed when the mean light intensity and the temporal frequency of the stimulus grating is varied within the limited range available.

  3. 3.

    By comparison, the LMC's change their MTF significantly when the mean light intensity and the temporal frequency of the grating are altered (Figs. 6 and 7). The computed angular sensitivity function exhibits inhibitory flanks at high mean intensity and low temporal frequency, which disappear at low mean intensity and high temporal frequency.

  4. 4.

    The receptive fields of receptors and LMC's were also tested using single bars of different widths. The response to sinusoidal modulation of the bar's intensity was measured as a function of its width (Figs 9–12). The results from receptors confirm the fields obtained from the MTF's (Figs. 9 and 10). The responses of second order neurons were more distorted and decreased in amplitude when the width of the bar exceeded the purely excitatory field (approx. 3 degrees inLucilia. cuprina) (Figs. 11 and 12). With this technique, only small differences could be detected between inhibitory effects at different mean light intensities. — The transfer function of the first synapse, while adding some distortions to the waveform, also rectifies some of the distortions due to the receptor MTF, namely the modulation asymmetry with respect to the response to the mean intensity (Figs. 10, 12 and 13).

  5. 5.

    The impulse response functions of photoreceptors to a light source positioned on-axis and off-axis were measured (Figs. 14 and 16). A much slower response was obtained when the light source was stimulating mainly the neighbouring receptors, suggesting coupling between receptors of different optical axis. Identical experiments were also carried out in the LMC's (Figs. 15 and 18). In the LMC's at very low stimulus intensity, the receptor coupling is reflected in a similar slower response as observed in the receptors. With increasing stimulus intensity, lateral inhibition reduces the response to off-axis light (Fig. 15).

  6. 6.

    Three point sources were used to determine whether inhibition in the fly lamina is recurrent. It was shown that while one spot of light can inhibit the response invoked by another, a third spot of light does not decrease this inhibitory effect (Figs. 19 and 20) suggesting that inhibition is not recurrent.

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Abbreviations

ERG :

electroretinogram

LMC :

lamina monopolar cell

LED :

light emitting diode

MTF :

modulation transfer function

Δp :

width at half height of the angular sensitivity function

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Author notes

  1. Andreas Dubs

    Present address: Department of Primary Industry, Plague Locust Commission, 2600, Canberra, A.C.T., Australia

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  1. Department of Neurobiology, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, 2601, Canberra City, A.C.T., Australia

    Andreas Dubs

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Dubs, A. The spatial integration of signals in the retina and lamina of the fly compound eye under different conditions of luminance. J. Comp. Physiol. 146, 321–343 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00612703

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