Visual motion processing subserving behavior in crabs

DANIEL TOMSIC

CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY

CURRENT BIOLOGY LTD

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2016

0959-4388

Motion vision originated during the Cambrian explosion more than 500 million years ago, likely triggered by the race for earliest detection between preys and predators. Evading a predator attack requires to detect and react to it quickly and reliably, which imposes a common constrain to the implementation of escape responses among different species. Thus, neural circuits subserving fast escape responses are usually straightforward and contain giant neurons. This review summarizes knowledge about a small group of motion-sensitive giant neurons thought to be central in guiding the escape performance of crabs to visual stimuli. The flexibility of the escape behavior contrasts with the stiffness of the optomotor response, indicating a task-dependent early segregation of visual pathways.