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Feature-detecting neurons in dragonflies

Nature volume 362, pages 541–543 (1993)Cite this article

Abstract

SINCE the earliest descriptions1 of the compound eye, the popular impression has prevailed that insects and mammals view the world differently. Recent work, however, underscores marked evolutionary convergence between the visual systems of vertebrates and insects at both optical2,3 and early processing levels4,5. Here I describe several classes of cells from the third optic ganglion of dragonflies that respond selectively to different target classes. Several physiological properties of these cells are remarkably similar to those of cells from areas 17,18 and 19 of the mammalian visual cortex. One class of bar-sensitive, orientation-biased cells could mediate discrimination of the orientation of low spatial frequency components of patterns. The existence of neurons functionally similar in many respects to those in the mammalian cortex suggests that evolutionary convergence in visual processing is not limited to early pathways. Insects, like mammals, seem to possess mechanisms for extracting spatial features from visual scenes.

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Author notes

  1. David O'Carroll

    Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Visual Science, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, PO Box 475, Canberra, 2601, Australia

    David O'Carroll

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  1. David O'Carroll
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O'Carroll, D. Feature-detecting neurons in dragonflies. Nature 362, 541–543 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/362541a0

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