Modular Use of Peripheral Input Channels Tunes Motion-Detecting Circuitry

Marion Silies, Daryl M. Gohl, Yvette E. Fisher, Limor Freifeld, Damon A. Clark, Thomas R. Clandinin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In the visual system, peripheral processing circuits are often tuned to specific stimulus features. How this selectivity arises and how these circuits are organized to inform specific visual behaviors is incompletely understood. Using forward genetics and quantitative behavioral studies, we uncover an input channel to motion detecting circuitry in Drosophila. The second-order neuron L3 acts combinatorially with two previously known inputs, L1 and L2, to inform circuits specialized to detect moving light and dark edges. Invivo calcium imaging of L3, combined with neuronal silencing experiments, suggests a neural mechanism to achieve selectivity for moving dark edges. We further demonstrate that different innate behaviors, turning and forward movement, can be independently modulated by visual motion. These two behaviors make use of different combinations of input channels. Such modular use of input channels to achieve feature extraction and behavioral specialization likely represents a general principle in sensory systems

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)111-127
Number of pages17
JournalNeuron
Volume79
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Jul 2013
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Modular Use of Peripheral Input Channels Tunes Motion-Detecting Circuitry'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this