Response properties of optic flow neurons in the accessory optic system of hummingbirds versus zebra finches and pigeons

Gaede, AH; Baliga, VB; Smyth, G; Gutierrez-lbanez, C; Altshuler, DL; Wylie, DR

Abstract

Optokinetic responses function to maintain retinal image stabilization by minimizing optic flow that occurs during self-motion. The hovering ability of hummingbirds is an extreme example of this behavior. Optokinetic responses are mediated by direction-selective neurons with large receptive fields in the accessory optic system (AOS) and pretectum. Recent studies in hummingbirds showed that, compared with other bird species, 1) the pretectal nucleus lentiformis mesencephali (LM) is hypertrophied, 2) LM has a unique distribution of direction preferences, and 3) LM neurons are more tightly tuned to stimulus velocity. In this study, we sought to determine if there are concomitant changes in the nucleus of the basal optic root (nBOR) of the AOS. We recorded the visual response properties of nBOR neurons to large-field-drifting random dot patterns and sine-wave gratings in Anna's hummingbirds and zebra finches and compared these with archival data from pigeons. We found no differences with respect to the distribution of direction preferences: Neurons responsive to upward, downward, and nasal-to-temporal motion were equally represented in all three species, and neurons responsive to temporal-to-nasal motion were rare or absent (

Citation

Gaede, A., Baliga, V., Smyth, G., Gutierrez-lbanez, C., Altshuler, D., & Wylie, D. (2022). Response properties of optic flow neurons in the accessory optic system of hummingbirds versus zebra finches and pigeons. Journal of Neurophysiology, 127(1), 130-144. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00437.2021

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 30, 2021
• Publication Date: Jan 4, 2022
• Deposit Date: Sep 7, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 5, 2023
• Print ISSN: 0022-3077
• Publisher: American Physiological Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 127
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 130-144
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00437.2021
• Keywords: accessory optic system; basal optic root; optic flow; optokinetic; visual motion; NUCLEUS LENTIFORMIS MESENCEPHALI; DORSAL TERMINAL NUCLEUS; RABBITS CEREBELLAR FLOCCULUS; PRETECTAL NUCLEUS; SPATIAL-ORGANIZATION; EYE-MOVEMENTS; OPTOKINETIC NYSTAGMUS; CORTI