Cockroach optomotor responses below single photon level

Abstract

Reliable vision in dim light depends on the efficient capture of photons. Moreover, visually guided behaviour requires reliable signals from the photoreceptors to generate appropriate motor reactions. Here, we show that at behavioural low-light threshold, cockroach photoreceptors respond to moving gratings with single-photon absorption events known as 'quantum bumps' at or below the rate of 0.1 s −1 . By performing behavioural experiments and intracellular recordings from photoreceptors under identical stimulus conditions, we demonstrate that continuous modulation of the photoreceptor membrane potential is not necessary to elicit visually guided behaviour. The results indicate that in cockroach motion detection, massive temporal and spatial pooling takes place throughout the eye under dim conditions, involving currently unknown neural processing algorithms. The extremely high night-vision capability of the cockroach visual system provides a roadmap for bio-mimetic imaging design.

Prey Luring Coloration of A Nocturnal Semi‐Aquatic Predator

“…; Honkanen et al. ), suggest that the visual capabilities of nocturnal insects are greater than we thought.…”

“…Nevertheless, recent research has shown that a variety of different body colors, including silver, yellow, and white, from a variety of nocturnal spiders can lure nocturnal insects (Chuang et al 2007(Chuang et al , 2008Blamires et al 2012Blamires et al , 2014Peng et al 2013;Zhang et al 2015). These results, and recent experiments showing the receptors of nocturnal insects responding to single photon sources (Kelber et al 2002;Honkanen et al 2014), suggest that the visual capabilities of nocturnal insects are greater than we thought.…”

“…; Warrant ; Klaus & Warrant ; Honkanen et al. ). Nevertheless, recent research has shown that a variety of different body colors, including silver, yellow, and white, from a variety of nocturnal spiders can lure nocturnal insects (Chuang et al.…”

“…Color vision and shape recognition are thought to be poorer in nocturnal insects than diurnal insects because the compound eyes of nocturnal insects draw photons from several adjacent ommatidia to elicit neural propagation, whereas neural propagation is directly associated with individual ommatidia in diurnal insects (Kelber et al 2003;Warrant 2004;Klaus & Warrant 2009;Honkanen et al 2014). Nevertheless, recent research has shown that a variety of different body colors, including silver, yellow, and white, from a variety of nocturnal spiders can lure nocturnal insects (Chuang et al 2007(Chuang et al , 2008Blamires et al 2012Blamires et al , 2014Peng et al 2013;Zhang et al 2015).…”

Visual ecology and potassium conductances of insect photoreceptors

“…This represents a rather special case, because the animal relies more on tactile and olfactory cues in behavior while having large eyes and sensitive vision in the dark (Honkanen et al 2014;Mote 1990;Riemay 1984). …”