Abstract
A puzzle for neuroscience—and robotics—is how insects achieve surprisingly complex behaviours with such tiny brains. One example is depth perception via binocular stereopsis in the praying mantis, a predatory insect. Praying mantids use stereopsis, the computation of distances from disparities between the two retinal images, to trigger a raptorial strike of their forelegs when prey is within reach. The neuronal basis of this ability is entirely unknown. Here we show the first evidence that individual neurons in the praying mantis brain are tuned to specific disparities and eccentricities, and thus locations in 3D-space. Like disparity-tuned cortical cells in vertebrates, the responses of these mantis neurons are consistent with linear summation of binocular inputs followed by an output nonlinearity. Our study not only proves the existence of disparity sensitive neurons in an insect brain, it also reveals feedback connections hitherto undiscovered in any animal species.
Highlights
A puzzle for neuroscience—and robotics—is how insects achieve surprisingly complex behaviours with such tiny brains
Information from the two eyes is combined in individual neurons in the primary visual cortex, which are tuned to different retinal disparities and different locations in 3D space
We identified a tangential projection neuron of the optic lobe, TAOpro, which is well suited to detect stereoscopically-defined mantis prey. We recorded from this neuron type only a single time. It ramifies in both outer lobes and the most distal layer of the anterior lobe of the lobula complex (LOX), a highly structured visual neuropil in the mantis brain[8]
Summary
A puzzle for neuroscience—and robotics—is how insects achieve surprisingly complex behaviours with such tiny brains. Insect stereopsis does differ from humans’ in using changes in luminance, rather than luminance directly[4] This does not explain how the mantis brain combines information about the location of luminance changes in the two eyes. Information from the two eyes is combined in individual neurons in the primary visual cortex, which are tuned to different retinal disparities (horizontal shifts of corresponding image features seen by both eyes) and different locations in 3D space. Such local computations are often regarded as far too elaborate and neuronally expensive for insect stereopsis[3,5,6]. The binocular response fields of several neurons show clear evidence of centresurround mechanisms and are similar to disparity-tuned neurons in the vertebrate visual cortex
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
