Filtering of Visual Information in the Tectum by an Identified Neural Circuit

Overview

Journal Science

Specialty Science

Date 2010 Oct 30

PMID 21030657

Citations 109

Authors

Filippo Del Bene

Claire Wyart

Estuardo Robles

Amanda Tran

Loren Looger

Ethan K Scott

Ehud Y Isacoff

Herwig Baier

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The optic tectum of zebrafish is involved in behavioral responses that require the detection of small objects. The superficial layers of the tectal neuropil receive input from retinal axons, while its deeper layers convey the processed information to premotor areas. Imaging with a genetically encoded calcium indicator revealed that the deep layers, as well as the dendrites of single tectal neurons, are preferentially activated by small visual stimuli. This spatial filtering relies on GABAergic interneurons (using the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid) that are located in the superficial input layer and respond only to large visual stimuli. Photo-ablation of these cells with KillerRed, or silencing of their synaptic transmission, eliminates the size tuning of deeper layers and impairs the capture of prey.

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