PUBLICATION

Filtering of visual information in the tectum by an identified neural circuit

Authors
Del Bene, F., Wyart, C., Robles, E., Tran, A., Looger, L., Scott, E.K., Isacoff, E.Y., and Baier, H.
ID
ZDB-PUB-101101-16
Date
2010
Source
Science (New York, N.Y.)   330(6004): 669-673 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Baier, Herwig, Del Bene, Filippo, Robles, Estuardo, Scott, Ethan, Wyart, Claire
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Axons/physiology
  • Bicuculline/pharmacology
  • Dendrites/physiology
  • GABA Antagonists/pharmacology
  • Interneurons/physiology*
  • Neural Inhibition
  • Neurons/physiology*
  • Neuropil/physiology
  • Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian/cytology
  • Optic Lobe, Nonmammalian/physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation
  • Retina/physiology*
  • Retinal Neurons/physiology
  • Synaptic Transmission
  • Visual Pathways/physiology*
  • Visual Perception*
  • Zebrafish
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/metabolism
PubMed
21030657 Full text @ Science
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 &gamma-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.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping