1
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Hoppe M, Spratte C, Hanke FD, Sørensen K. Single target acuity for moving targets in the common sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus). Biol Open 2024; 13:bio060455. [PMID: 38738649 PMCID: PMC11179713 DOI: 10.1242/bio.060455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The common sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) likely relies on vision for many vital behaviors that require the perception of small objects such as detection of prey items or body marks of conspecifics. A previous study documented the single target acuity (STA) for stationary targets. Under many, if not most, circumstances, however, objects of interest are moving, which is why the current study tested the effect of the ecologically relevant parameter motion on sunfish STA. The STA was determined in two sunfish for targets moving randomly at a velocity of 3.4 deg/s. The STA for moving targets (0.144±0.002 deg) was equal to the STA for stationary targets obtained from the same fish individuals under the experimental conditions of this/the previous study. Our results contribute to a comprehensive understanding of fish vision, extending the large data set available on grating acuity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Hoppe
- Institute for Biosciences, Neuroethology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Caroline Spratte
- Institute for Biosciences, Neuroethology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Frederike D Hanke
- Institute for Biosciences, Neuroethology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Kenneth Sørensen
- Institute for Biosciences, Neuroethology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, 18059 Rostock, Germany
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2
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Volotsky S, Donchin O, Segev R. The archerfish uses motor adaptation in shooting to correct for changing physical conditions. eLife 2024; 12:RP92909. [PMID: 38829209 PMCID: PMC11147504 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The archerfish is unique in its ability to hunt by shooting a jet of water from its mouth that hits insects situated above the water's surface. To aim accurately, the fish needs to overcome physical factors including changes in light refraction at the air-water interface. Nevertheless, archerfish can still hit the target with a high success rate under changing conditions. One possible explanation for this extraordinary ability is that it is learned by trial and error through a motor adaptation process. We tested this possibility by characterizing the ability of the archerfish to adapt to perturbations in the environment to make appropriate adjustments to its shots. We introduced a perturbing airflow above the water tank of the archerfish trained to shoot at a target. For each trial shot, we measured the error, i.e., the distance between the center of the target and the center of the water jet produced by the fish. Immediately after the airflow perturbation, there was an increase in shot error. Then, over the course of several trials, the error was reduced and eventually plateaued. After the removal of the perturbation, there was an aftereffect, where the error was in the opposite direction but washed out after several trials. These results indicate that archerfish can adapt to the airflow perturbation. Testing the fish with two opposite airflow directions indicated that adaptation took place within an egocentric frame of reference. These results thus suggest that the archerfish is capable of motor adaptation, as indicated by data showing that the fish produced motor commands that anticipated the perturbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Volotsky
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBe'er ShevaIsrael
- School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBe'er ShevaIsrael
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBe'er ShevaIsrael
| | - Opher Donchin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBe'er ShevaIsrael
- School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBe'er ShevaIsrael
| | - Ronen Segev
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBe'er ShevaIsrael
- School of Brain Sciences and Cognition, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBe'er ShevaIsrael
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBe'er ShevaIsrael
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3
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Cheney KL, Hudson J, de Busserolles F, Luehrmann M, Shaughnessy A, van den Berg C, Green NF, Marshall NJ, Cortesi F. Seeing Picasso: an investigation into the visual system of the triggerfish Rhinecanthus aculeatus. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:jeb243907. [PMID: 35244167 PMCID: PMC9080752 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Vision is used by animals to find food and mates, avoid predators, defend resources and navigate through complex habitats. Behavioural experiments are essential for understanding animals' perception but are often challenging and time-consuming; therefore, using species that can be trained easily for complex tasks is advantageous. Picasso triggerfish, Rhinecanthus aculeatus, have been used in many behavioural studies investigating vision and navigation. However, little is known about the molecular and anatomical basis of their visual system. We addressed this knowledge gap here and behaviourally tested achromatic and chromatic acuity. In terms of visual opsins, R. aculeatus possessed one rod opsin gene (RH1) and at least nine cone opsins: one violet-sensitive SWS2B gene, seven duplicates of the blue-green-sensitive RH2 gene (RH2A, RH2B, RH2C1-5) and one red-sensitive LWS gene. However, only five cone opsins were expressed: SWS2B expression was consistent, while RH2A, RH2C-1 and RH2C-2 expression varied depending on whether fish were sampled from the field or aquaria. Levels of LWS expression were very low. Using fluorescence in situ hybridisation, we found SWS2B was expressed exclusively in single cones, whereas RH2A and RH2Cs were expressed in opposite double cone members. Anatomical resolution estimated from ganglion cell densities was 6.8 cycles per degree (cpd), which was significantly higher than values obtained from behavioural testing for black-and-white achromatic stimuli (3.9 cpd) and chromatic stimuli (1.7-1.8 cpd). These measures were twice as high as previously reported. This detailed information on their visual system will help inform future studies with this emerging focal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L. Cheney
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jemma Hudson
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Fanny de Busserolles
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Martin Luehrmann
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Abigail Shaughnessy
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Cedric van den Berg
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Naomi F. Green
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - N. Justin Marshall
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Fabio Cortesi
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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4
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Caves EM, de Busserolles F, Kelley LA. Sex differences in behavioural and anatomical estimates of visual acuity in the green swordtail Xiphophorus helleri. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:273770. [PMID: 34787303 PMCID: PMC8729911 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Among fishes in the family Poeciliidae, signals such as colour patterns, ornaments and courtship displays play important roles in mate choice and male–male competition. Despite this, visual capabilities in poeciliids are understudied, in particular, visual acuity, the ability to resolve detail. We used three methods to quantify visual acuity in male and female green swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri), a species in which body size and the length of the male's extended caudal fin (‘sword’) serve as assessment signals during mate choice and agonistic encounters. Topographic distribution of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) was similar in all individuals and was characterized by areas of high cell densities located centro-temporally and nasally, as well as a weak horizontal streak. Based on the peak density of RGCs in the centro-temporal area, anatomical acuity was estimated to be approximately 3 cycles per degree (cpd) in both sexes. However, a behavioural optomotor assay found significantly lower mean acuity in males (0.8 cpd) than females (3.0 cpd), which was not explained by differences in eye size between males and females. An additional behavioural assay, in which we trained individuals to discriminate striped gratings from grey stimuli of the same mean luminance, also showed lower acuity in males (1–2 cpd) than females (2–3 cpd). Thus, although retinal anatomy predicts identical acuity in males and females, two behavioural assays found higher acuity in females than males, a sexual dimorphism that is rare outside of invertebrates. Overall, our results have implications for understanding how poeciliids perceive visual signals during mate choice and agonistic encounters. Summary: Anatomical and behavioural quantification of visual acuity (spatial resolving power) in green swordtails indicates that acuity was anatomically identical in both sexes, but behaviourally higher in females, with implications for signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor M Caves
- University of Exeter, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Penryn, UK.,University of California Santa Barbara, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | | | - Laura A Kelley
- University of Exeter, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Penryn, UK
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5
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Zhu L, Jiang H, Zhang L, Cha J, Mao B, Li Y. The complete mitochondrial genome of Toxotes chatareus (Toxotes; Toxotidae; Carangaria) assembled by the next-generation sequencing data and phylogenetic analysis of Carangaria. MITOCHONDRIAL DNA PART B-RESOURCES 2021; 6:3233-3235. [PMID: 34676299 PMCID: PMC8526022 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2021.1991246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
We present the complete mitochondrial genome of Toxotes chatareus yielded by the next-generation sequencing data in this study. The complete mitochondrial genome of T. chatareus has 16,543 bp and contained 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a single control region (D-loop). The overall base composition was A 28.75%, C 29.80%, G 15.77%, T 25.68% and its gene arrangement was similar with other Carangaria mitochondrial genomes. Additionally, the phylogenetic relationships of 13 Carangaria species based on the complete mitochondrial genome was analyzed using the neighbor-joining method. The result showed T. chatareus was clustered with L. lactarius suggesting the close phylogenetic affinity they owned. Together, the complete mitochondrial genome of T. chatareus would be beneficial for the study of phylogenetic relationship, taxonomic classification and phylogeography of the Carangaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- College of Life Science, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, China
| | - Longlong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources and Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Jingmei Cha
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Bingyu Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Yongxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,School of Ecology and Environment, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, China
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6
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Pushchin I. Retinal ganglion cell distribution and spatial resolution in the Asiatic toad Bufo gargarizans (Günther, 1859). Vision Res 2021; 195:107960. [PMID: 34674891 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Vision plays a crucial role in the biology of anurans. The spatial arrangement of retinal ganglion cells (GCs) is closely related to visual behavior in vertebrates. There is scarce data on GC topography in anurans, in particular, in toads. I studied the number and distribution of GCs in the retina of the Asiatic toad Bufo gargarizans. GCs were unevenly distributed across the retina. Their spatial density was minimum in the dorsal periphery (3374 and 2486 cells/mm2 in the smaller and larger toad, respectively). It increased towards the retinal equator, where a moderately pronounced visual streak was observed comprising several "patches" of a greater GC density. The streak had somewhat "vague" dorsal and ventral borders. The maximum GC density (8605 and 7282 cells/mm2 in the smaller and larger toad, respectively) was found in the temporal retina, slightly dorsal to the equator. The respective zone was identified as an area centralis. The total GC number ranged from 266 × 103 (smaller toad) to 309 × 103 cells (larger toad). The spatial resolution as estimated from eye geometry and GC density in air was minimum in the dorsal periphery (0.90 and 0.79 cycles per degree in smaller and larger toads, respectively) and maximum in the area centralis (1.43 and 1.36 cycles per degree in smaller and larger toads, respectively). Both retinal specializations found in the Asiatic toad match its biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Pushchin
- Laboratory of Physiology, A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia.
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7
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Newport C, Schuster S. Archerfish vision: Visual challenges faced by a predator with a unique hunting technique. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2020; 106:53-60. [PMID: 32522409 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Archerfish are well-known for their ballistic hunting behaviour, in which they shoot down aerial prey with a well-aimed jet of water. This unique hunting strategy poses several challenges for visual systems. Archerfish face significant distortion to the appearance of targets due to refraction at the air/water interface, they search for prey against a complex background of foliage, they change prey targeting behaviour as conditions change, and they must make high speed decisions to avoid competition. By studying how archerfish have overcome these challenges, we have been able to understand more about fundamental problems faced by visual systems and the mechanisms used to solve them. In some cases, such as when searching for targets, the visual capabilities of archerfish are functionally similar to those of humans, despite significant differences in neuroanatomy. In other cases, the particular challenge faced by archerfish magnifies fundamental problems generally faced by visual systems, such as recognizing objects given strong viewpoint dependent changes to appearance. The efficiency of archerfish retrieving fallen prey to avoid kleptoparasitism, demonstrates that their visual processing excels in both speed and accuracy. In this review, we attempt to provide an overview of the many facets of visually driven behaviour of archerfish, and how they have been studied. In addition to their hunting technique, archerfish are ideal for visual processing experiments as they can be quickly trained to perform a range of non-ecologically relevant tasks. Their behavioural flexibility moreover, introduces the opportunity to study how experience-dependence and choice affects visual processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cait Newport
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, United Kingdom.
| | - Stefan Schuster
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
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8
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Znotinas KR, Standen EM. Aerial and aquatic visual acuity of the grey bichir Polypterus senegalus, as estimated by optokinetic response. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2019; 95:263-273. [PMID: 29956322 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The present study assessed the aerial and aquatic visual abilities of juvenile grey bichir Polypterus senegalus, fish capable of terrestrial locomotion, by measuring the optokinetic response to stimuli of varying speed and spatial frequency. In water, fish tracked slow-moving (2° s-1 ) stimuli moderately well and fast-moving stimuli very poorly. Spatial acuity was very low compared with many other species, with maximum response observed at 0.05-0.075 stimulus cycles per degree of visual arc; however, it should be noted that adult fish, with their larger eyes, are likely to have somewhat improved spatial acuity. Low spatial acuity and limited stimulus tracking ability might be expected in a nocturnal ambush predator such as P. senegalus, where gaze stabilization may be less crucial and other sensory inputs may have greater importance in perception of the environment. In air, spatial and temporal acuity were both poorer by every measure, but some visual ability persisted. As the eye shows no anatomical specialization for aerial vision, poor vision was expected; however, the large decrease in saccade velocity observed in air trials was unexpected. Stimulus parameters typically have little effect on the characteristics of the saccade, so this finding may suggest that the function of the reflex system itself could be compromised in the aerial vision of some fishes capable of terrestrial locomotion.
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9
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Higham TE, Schmitz L. A Hierarchical View of Gecko Locomotion: Photic Environment, Physiological Optics, and Locomotor Performance. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 59:443-455. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icz092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Terrestrial animals move in complex habitats that vary over space and time. The characteristics of these habitats are not only defined by the physical environment, but also by the photic environment, even though the latter has largely been overlooked. For example, numerous studies of have examined the role of habitat structure, such as incline, perch diameter, and compliance, on running performance. However, running performance likely depends heavily on light level. Geckos are an exceptional group for analyzing the role of the photic environment on locomotion as they exhibit several independent shifts to diurnality from a nocturnal ancestor, they are visually-guided predators, and they are extremely diverse. Our initial goal is to discuss the range of photic environments that can be encountered in terrestrial habitats, such as day versus night, canopy cover in a forest, fog, and clouds. We then review the physiological optics of gecko vision with some new information about retina structures, the role of vision in motor-driven behaviors, and what is known about gecko locomotion under different light conditions, before demonstrating the effect of light levels on gecko locomotor performance. Overall, we highlight the importance of integrating sensory and motor information and establish a conceptual framework as guide for future research. Several future directions, such as understanding the role of pupil dynamics, are dependent on an integrative framework. This general framework can be extended to any motor system that relies on sensory information, and can be used to explore the impact of performance features on diversification and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy E Higham
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Lars Schmitz
- W.M. Keck Science Department, Claremont McKenna, Scripps, and Pitzer Colleges, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
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10
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Reichenthal A, Ben-Tov M, Ben-Shahar O, Segev R. What pops out for you pops out for fish: Four common visual features. J Vis 2019; 19:1. [PMID: 30601571 DOI: 10.1167/19.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Visual search is the ability to detect a target of interest against a background of distracting objects. For many animals, performing this task fast and accurately is crucial for survival. Typically, visual-search performance is measured by the time it takes the observer to detect a target against a backdrop of distractors. The efficiency of a visual search depends fundamentally on the features of the target, the distractors, and the interaction between them. Substantial efforts have been devoted to investigating the influence of different visual features on visual-search performance in humans. In particular, it has been demonstrated that color, size, orientation, and motion are efficient visual features to guide attention in humans. However, little is known about which features are efficient and which are not in other vertebrates. Given earlier observations that moving targets elicit pop-out and parallel search in the archerfish during visual-search tasks, here we investigate and confirm that all four of these visual features also facilitate efficient search in the archerfish in a manner comparable to humans. In conjunction with results reported for other species, these finding suggest universality in the way visual search is carried out by animals despite very different brain anatomies and living environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Reichenthal
- Life Sciences Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Mor Ben-Tov
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ohad Ben-Shahar
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Department of Computer Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ronen Segev
- Life Sciences Department, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
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11
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Schuster S. Hunting in archerfish - an ecological perspective on a remarkable combination of skills. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:221/24/jeb159723. [PMID: 30530768 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.159723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Archerfish are well known for using jets of water to dislodge distant aerial prey from twigs or leaves. This Review gives a brief overview of a number of skills that the fish need to secure prey with their shooting technique. Archerfish are opportunistic hunters and, even in the wild, shoot at artificial objects to determine whether these are rewarding. They can detect non-moving targets and use efficient search strategies with characteristics of human visual search. Their learning of how to engage targets can be remarkably efficient and can show impressive degrees of generalization, including learning from observation. In other cases, however, the fish seem unable to learn and it requires some understanding of the ecological and biophysical constraints to appreciate why. The act of shooting has turned out not to be of a simple all-or-none character. Rather, the fish adjust the volume of water fired according to target size and use fine adjustments in the timing of their mouth opening and closing manoeuvre to adjust the hydrodynamic stability of their jets to target distance. As soon as prey is dislodged and starts falling, the fish make rapid and yet sophisticated multi-dimensional decisions to secure their prey against many intraspecific and interspecific competitors. Although it is not known why and how archerfish evolved an ability to shoot in the first place, I suggest that the evolution of shooting has strongly pushed the co-evolution of diverse other skills that are needed to secure a catch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Schuster
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany
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12
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Newport C, Wallis G, Siebeck UE. Object recognition in fish: accurate discrimination across novel views of an unfamiliar object category (human faces). Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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13
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Ben-Tov M, Ben-Shahar O, Segev R. What a predator can teach us about visual processing: a lesson from the archerfish. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2018; 52:80-87. [PMID: 29727858 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/07/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The archerfish is a predator with highly unusual visually guided behavior. It is most famous for its ability to hunt by shooting water jets at static or dynamic insect prey, up to two meters above the water's surface. In the lab, the archerfish can learn to distinguish and shoot at artificial targets presented on a computer screen, thus enabling well-controlled experiments. In recent years, these capacities have turned the archerfish into a model animal for studying a variety of visual functions, from visual saliency and visual search, through fast visually guided prediction, and all the way to higher level visual processing such as face recognition. Here we review these recent developments and show how they fall into two emerging lines of research on this animal model. The first is ethologically motivated and emphasizes how the natural environment and habitat of the archerfish interact with its visual processing during predation. The second is driven by parallels to the primate brain and aims to determine whether the latter's characteristic visual information processing capacities can also be found in the qualitatively different fish brain, thereby underscoring the functional universality of certain visual processes. We discuss the differences between these two lines of research and possible future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mor Ben-Tov
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, United States
| | - Ohad Ben-Shahar
- Computer Sciences Department, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel; Life Sciences Department, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
| | - Ronen Segev
- Life Sciences Department, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel; Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel; Biomedical Engineering Department, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
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14
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Parker AN, Fritsches KA, Newport C, Wallis G, Siebeck UE. Comparison of functional and anatomical estimations of visual acuity in two species of coral reef fish. J Exp Biol 2017; 220:2387-2396. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.149575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The high contrast, complex patterns typical of many reef fish serve several purposes, including providing disruptive camouflage and a basis for vision-based communication. In trying to understand the role of a specific pattern it is important to first assess the extent to which an observer can resolve the pattern, itself determined, at least in part, by the observer’s visual acuity. In this study, we study the visual acuity of two species of reef fish using both anatomical and behavioural estimates. The two species in question share a common habitat but are members of different trophic levels (predator vs. herbivore/omnivore) and perform different visual tasks. On the basis of the anatomical study we estimated visual acuity to lie between 4.1 – 4.6 cycles per degree (cpd) for Pomacentrus amboinensis and 3.2 – 3.6 cpd for Pseudochromis fuscus. Behavioural acuity estimates were considerably lower, ranging between 1.29 and 1.36 cpd for Pomacentrus amboinensis and 1.61 and 1.71 cpd for Pseudochromis fuscus. Our results show that two species from the same habitat have only moderately divergent visual capabilities, despite differences in their general life histories. The difference between anatomical and behavioural estimates is an important finding as the majority of our current knowledge on the resolution capabilities of reef fish comes from anatomical measurements. Our findings suggest that anatomical estimates may represent the highest potential acuity of fish but are not indicative of actual performance, and that there is unlikely to be a simple scaling factor to link the two measures across all fish species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amira N. Parker
- Laboratory for Visual Neuroethology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Kerstin A. Fritsches
- Laboratory for Visual Neuroethology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Cait Newport
- Laboratory for Visual Neuroethology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, England
| | - Guy Wallis
- Centre for Sensorimotor Performance, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Ulrike E. Siebeck
- Laboratory for Visual Neuroethology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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15
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Karoubi N, Segev R, Wullimann MF. The Brain of the Archerfish Toxotes chatareus: A Nissl-Based Neuroanatomical Atlas and Catecholaminergic/Cholinergic Systems. Front Neuroanat 2016; 10:106. [PMID: 27891081 PMCID: PMC5104738 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2016.00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Over recent years, the seven-spot archerfish (Toxotes chatareus) has emerged as a new model for studies in visual and behavioral neuroscience thanks to its unique hunting strategy. Its natural ability to spit at insects outside of water can be used in the laboratory for well controlled behavioral experiments where the fish is trained to aim at targets on a screen. The need for a documentation of the neuroanatomy of this animal became critical as more research groups use it as a model. Here we present an atlas of adult T. chatareus specimens caught in the wild in South East Asia. The atlas shows representative sections of the brain and specific structures revealed by a classic Nissl staining as well as corresponding schematic drawings. Additional immunostainings for catecholaminergic and cholinergic systems were conducted to corroborate the identification of certain nuclei and the data of a whole brain scanner is available online. We describe the general features of the archerfish brain as well as its specificities, especially for the visual system and compare the neuroanatomy of the archerfish with other teleosts. This atlas of the archerfish brain shows all levels of the neuraxis and intends to provide a solid basis for further neuroscientific research on T. chatareus, in particular electrophysiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Karoubi
- Life Sciences Department and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Beersheba, Israel
| | - Ronen Segev
- Life Sciences Department and Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Beersheba, Israel
| | - Mario F Wullimann
- Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences and Division of Neurobiology, Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich Munich, Germany
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16
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Discrimination of human faces by archerfish (Toxotes chatareus). Sci Rep 2016; 6:27523. [PMID: 27272551 PMCID: PMC4895153 DOI: 10.1038/srep27523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Two rival theories of how humans recognize faces exist: (i) recognition is innate, relying on specialized neocortical circuitry, and (ii) recognition is a learned expertise, relying on general object recognition pathways. Here, we explore whether animals without a neocortex, can learn to recognize human faces. Human facial recognition has previously been demonstrated for birds, however they are now known to possess neocortex-like structures. Also, with much of the work done in domesticated pigeons, one cannot rule out the possibility that they have developed adaptations for human face recognition. Fish do not appear to possess neocortex-like cells, and given their lack of direct exposure to humans, are unlikely to have evolved any specialized capabilities for human facial recognition. Using a two-alternative forced-choice procedure, we show that archerfish (Toxotes chatareus) can learn to discriminate a large number of human face images (Experiment 1, 44 faces), even after controlling for colour, head-shape and brightness (Experiment 2, 18 faces). This study not only demonstrates that archerfish have impressive pattern discrimination abilities, but also provides evidence that a vertebrate lacking a neocortex and without an evolutionary prerogative to discriminate human faces, can nonetheless do so to a high degree of accuracy.
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17
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Pita D, Moore BA, Tyrrell LP, Fernández-Juricic E. Vision in two cyprinid fish: implications for collective behavior. PeerJ 2015; 3:e1113. [PMID: 26290783 PMCID: PMC4540049 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Many species of fish rely on their visual systems to interact with conspecifics and these interactions can lead to collective behavior. Individual-based models have been used to predict collective interactions; however, these models generally make simplistic assumptions about the sensory systems that are applied without proper empirical testing to different species. This could limit our ability to predict (and test empirically) collective behavior in species with very different sensory requirements. In this study, we characterized components of the visual system in two species of cyprinid fish known to engage in visually dependent collective interactions (zebrafish Danio rerio and golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas) and derived quantitative predictions about the positioning of individuals within schools. We found that both species had relatively narrow binocular and blind fields and wide visual coverage. However, golden shiners had more visual coverage in the vertical plane (binocular field extending behind the head) and higher visual acuity than zebrafish. The centers of acute vision (areae) of both species projected in the fronto-dorsal region of the visual field, but those of the zebrafish projected more dorsally than those of the golden shiner. Based on this visual sensory information, we predicted that: (a) predator detection time could be increased by >1,000% in zebrafish and >100% in golden shiners with an increase in nearest neighbor distance, (b) zebrafish schools would have a higher roughness value (surface area/volume ratio) than those of golden shiners, (c) and that nearest neighbor distance would vary from 8 to 20 cm to visually resolve conspecific striping patterns in both species. Overall, considering between-species differences in the sensory system of species exhibiting collective behavior could change the predictions about the positioning of individuals in the group as well as the shape of the school, which can have implications for group cohesion. We suggest that more effort should be invested in assessing the role of the sensory system in shaping local interactions driving collective behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Pita
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University , West Lafayette, IN , USA
| | - Bret A Moore
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University , West Lafayette, IN , USA
| | - Luke P Tyrrell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University , West Lafayette, IN , USA
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18
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Hunt DE, Rawlinson NJF, Thomas GA, Cobcroft JM. Investigating photoreceptor densities, potential visual acuity, and cone mosaics of shallow water, temperate fish species. Vision Res 2015; 111:13-21. [PMID: 25872175 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2015.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Revised: 03/10/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The eye is an important sense organ for teleost species but can vary greatly depending on the adaption to the habitat, environment during ontogeny and developmental stage of the fish. The eye and retinal morphology of eight commonly caught trawl bycatch species were described: Lepidotrigla mulhalli; Lophonectes gallus; Platycephalus bassensis; Sillago flindersi; Neoplatycephalus richardsoni; Thamnaconus degeni; Parequula melbournensis; and Trachurus declivis. The cone densities ranged from 38 cones per 0.01 mm(2) for S. flindersi to 235 cones per 0.01 mm(2) for P. melbournensis. The rod densities ranged from 22800 cells per 0.01 mm(2) for L. mulhalli to 76634 cells per 0.01 mm(2) for T. declivis and potential visual acuity (based on anatomical measures) ranged from 0.08 in L. gallus to 0.31 in P. melbournensis. Higher rod densities were correlated with maximum habitat depths. Six species had the regular pattern of four double cones arranged around a single cone in the photoreceptor mosaic, while T. declivis had only rows of double cones. P. melbournensis had the greatest potential ability for detecting fine detail based on eye anatomy. The potential visual acuity estimates and rod densities can be applied to suggest the relative detection ability of different species in a commercial fishing context, since vision is a critical sense in an illuminated environment for perceiving an oncoming trawl.
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Affiliation(s)
- D E Hunt
- Northern Hub, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1370, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia.
| | - N J F Rawlinson
- Northern Hub, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1370, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia
| | - G A Thomas
- University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, United Kingdom
| | - J M Cobcroft
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia; University of the Sunshine Coast, Locked Bag 4, Maroochydore DC, Queensland 4558, Australia
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19
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Cohn BA, Collin SP, Wainwright PC, Schmitz L. Retinal topography maps in R: new tools for the analysis and visualization of spatial retinal data. J Vis 2015; 15:19. [PMID: 26230981 PMCID: PMC4527213 DOI: 10.1167/15.9.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal topography maps are a widely used tool in vision science, neuroscience, and visual ecology, providing an informative visualization of the spatial distribution of cell densities across the retinal hemisphere. Here, we introduce Retina, an R package for computational mapping, inspection of topographic model fits, and generation of average maps. Functions in Retina take cell count data obtained from retinal wholemounts using stereology software. Accurate visualizations and comparisons between different eyes have been difficult in the past, because of deformation and incisions of retinal wholemounts. We account for these issues by incorporation of the R package Retistruct, which results in a retrodeformation of the wholemount into a hemispherical shape, similar to the original eyecup. The maps are generated by thin plate splines, after the data were transformed into a two-dimensional space with an azimuthal equidistant plot projection. Retina users can compute retinal topography maps independent of stereology software choice and assess model fits with a variety of diagnostic plots. Functionality of Retina also includes species average maps, an essential feature for interspecific analyses. The Retina package will facilitate rigorous comparative studies in visual ecology by providing a robust quantitative approach to generate retinal topography maps.
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20
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Eye movements of vertebrates and their relation to eye form and function. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2014; 201:195-214. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-014-0964-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2014] [Revised: 11/01/2014] [Accepted: 11/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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21
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Newport C, Wallis G, Siebeck UE. Concept learning and the use of three common psychophysical paradigms in the archerfish (Toxotes chatareus). Front Neural Circuits 2014; 8:39. [PMID: 24795572 PMCID: PMC4006028 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2014.00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2013] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Archerfish are well known for their specialized hunting technique of spitting water at prey located above the water line. This unique ability has made them a popular focus of study as researchers try to understand the mechanisms involved in targeting and spitting. In more recent years, archerfish have also become an increasingly popular model for studying visual discrimination and learning in general. Until now, only the alternative forced-choice (AFC) task has been used with archerfish, however, they may be capable of learning other classical discrimination tasks. As well as providing alternative, and potentially more efficient, means for testing their visual capabilities, these other tasks may also provide deeper insight into the extent to which an organism with no cortex can grasp the concepts underlying these tasks. In this paper, we consider both the matched-to-sample (MTS) and the odd-one-out (OOO) tasks as they require the subject to learn relatively sophisticated concepts rather than a straight, stimulus-reward relationship, of the kind underlying AFC tasks. A variety of line drawings displayed on a monitor were used as stimuli. We first determined if archerfish could complete the MTS and OOO test and then evaluated their ability to be retrained to new stimuli using a 4-AFC test. We found that archerfish were unable to learn the MTS and had only a limited capacity for learning the OOO task. We conclude that the MTS and OOO are impractical as paradigms for behavioral experiments with archerfish. However, the archerfish could rapidly learn to complete an AFC test and select the conditioned stimulus with a high degree of accuracy when faced with four stimuli, making this a powerful test for behavioral studies testing visual discrimination. In addition, the fish were able to learn the concept of oddity under particular training circumstances. This paper adds to the growing evidence that animals without a cortex are capable of learning some higher order concepts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cait Newport
- Laboratory for Visual Neuroethology, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Guy Wallis
- Centre for Sensorimotor Neuroscience, School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland Brisbane, QLD, Australia ; Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Ulrike E Siebeck
- Laboratory for Visual Neuroethology, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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22
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Champ C, Wallis G, Vorobyev M, Siebeck U, Marshall J. Visual Acuity in a Species of Coral Reef Fish:Rhinecanthus aculeatus. BRAIN, BEHAVIOR AND EVOLUTION 2014; 83:31-42. [DOI: 10.1159/000356977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2013] [Accepted: 10/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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23
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Newport C, Wallis G, Temple SE, Siebeck UE. Complex, context-dependent decision strategies of archerfish, Toxotes chatareus. Anim Behav 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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24
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Ben-Tov M, Kopilevich I, Donchin O, Ben-Shahar O, Giladi C, Segev R. Visual receptive field properties of cells in the optic tectum of the archer fish. J Neurophysiol 2013; 110:748-59. [DOI: 10.1152/jn.00094.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The archer fish is well known for its extreme visual behavior in shooting water jets at prey hanging on vegetation above water. This fish is a promising model in the study of visual system function because it can be trained to respond to artificial targets and thus to provide valuable psychophysical data. Although much behavioral data have indeed been collected over the past two decades, little is known about the functional organization of the main visual area supporting this visual behavior, namely, the fish optic tectum. In this article we focus on a fundamental aspect of this functional organization and provide a detailed analysis of receptive field properties of cells in the archer fish optic tectum. Using extracellular measurements to record activities of single cells, we first measure their retinotectal mapping. We then determine their receptive field properties such as size, selectivity for stimulus direction and orientation, tuning for spatial frequency, and tuning for temporal frequency. Finally, on the basis of all these measurements, we demonstrate that optic tectum cells can be classified into three categories: orientation-tuned cells, direction-tuned cells, and direction-agnostic cells. Our results provide an essential basis for future investigations of information processing in the archer fish visual system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mor Ben-Tov
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ivgeny Kopilevich
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| | - Opher Donchin
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ohad Ben-Shahar
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
- Department of Computer Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel; and
| | - Chen Giladi
- Department of Physics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| | - Ronen Segev
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
- Zlotowski Center for Neuroscience, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
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