Spectral responses and chromatic processing in the dragonfly lamina

Abstract

The dragonfly Hemicordulia tau has five spectral classes of photoreceptor which drive five lamina monopolars, m1-m5. The monopolars encode spectral information. Here, spectral coding by m2, m4 and m5 are described. m2 is the most sensitive to dim light. m4 and m5 are less sensitive than m2, and so we call them photopic cells. The effects of selective adaptation of receptor inputs to m4 and m5 are unusual. For example, in m4 adaptation of the green receptor suppresses the UV input, but green sensitivity is unaffected, while green adaptation of m5 increases its green sensitivity. In m5 the dark adapted spectral tuning resembles the 520 nm receptor, but on adaptation to 430 nm light this narrows markedly. Adaptation either of green or of UV receptor input to m2 and m4 modifies the time course of responses both to green and to UV, implying that changes in the time courses of monopolar responses with adaptation state do not directly reflect receptor responses (Fig. 2). Finally, the antagonistic surround of m2 is UV sensitive, and of m4 green sensitive (Fig. 3).