Abstract Culture refers to behaviours that are socially learned and persist within a population over time. Increasing evidence suggests animal culture can, like human culture, be cumulative: characterized by sequential innovations build on previous ones 1 . However, cumulative involves so complex they lie beyond the capacity of any individual independently discover during their lifetime 1–3 To our knowledge, no study has far demonstrated this phenomenon in an invertebrate. Here we show...

The compound eye of insects imposes a tradeoff between resolution and sensitivity, which should exacerbate with diminishing size. Tiny lenses are thought to deliver poor acuity because diffraction; nevertheless, miniature have visual systems that allow myriad lifestyles. Here, we investigate whether size constraints result in an archetypal design shared dipterans by comparing the performance fruit fly Drosophila killer Coenosia. These closely related species neural superposition eyes similar...

Color and motion information are thought to be channeled through separate neural pathways, but it remains unclear whether how these pathways interact improve perception. In insects, such as Drosophila, has long been believed that is fed exclusively by one spectral class of photoreceptor, so-called R1 R6 cells; whereas R7 R8 photoreceptors, which exist in multiple classes, subserve color vision. Here, we report also contribute the pathway. By using electrophysiological, optical, behavioral...

Besides the physical limits imposed on photon absorption, coprocessing of visual information by phototransduction cascade and photoreceptor membrane determines fidelity signaling. We investigated response dynamics signaling efficiency Drosophila photoreceptors to natural-like fluctuating light contrast stimulation intracellular current injection when cells were adapted over a 4-log unit intensity range at 25°C. This dual allowed us characterize how an increase in mean causes produce larger,...

BackgroundIn fly photoreceptors, light is focused onto a photosensitive waveguide, the rhabdomere, consisting of tens thousands microvilli. Each microvillus capable generating elementary responses, quantum bumps, in response to single photons using stochastically operating phototransduction cascade. Whereas much known about cascade reactions, less how concerted action microvilli population encodes changes into neural information and ultrastructure biochemical machinery photoreceptors flies...

Small fly eyes should not see fine image details. Because flies exhibit saccadic visual behaviors and their compound have relatively few ommatidia (sampling points), photoreceptors would be expected to generate blurry coarse retinal images of the world. Here we demonstrate that Drosophila world far better than predicted from classic theories. By using electrophysiological, optical behavioral assays, found R1-R6 photoreceptors’ encoding capacity in time is maximized fast high-contrast bursts,...

To characterize the transfer of graded potentials and properties associated noise in photoreceptor-interneuron synapse blowfly (Calliphora vicina) compound eye, we recorded voltage responses photoreceptors (R1-6) large monopolar cells (LMC) evoked by: (a) steps light presented dark; (b) contrast steps; (c) pseudorandomly modulated stimuli at backgrounds covering 6 log intensity units. Additionally, made recordings from photoreceptor axon terminals. Increased adaptation gradually changed...

Response properties of short-type (R1-6) photoreceptors the blowfly (Calliphora vicina) were investigated with intracellular recordings using repeated sequences pseudorandomly modulated light contrast stimuli at adapting backgrounds covering 5 log intensity units. The resulting voltage responses used to determine effects adaptational regulation on signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), signal induced noise, gain, linearity and dead time in phototransduction. In adaptation SNR improved more than...

At the layer of first visual synapses, information from photoreceptors is processed and transmitted towards brain. In fly compound eye, output (R1-R6) that share same field pooled via histaminergic synapses to two classes interneuron, large monopolar cells (LMCs) amacrine (ACs). The interneurons also feed back photoreceptor terminals numerous ligand-gated yet significance these connections has remained a mystery. We investigated role feedback by comparing intracellular responses LMCs in...

Histamine (HA) is the photoreceptor neurotransmitter in arthropods, directly gating chloride channels on large monopolar cells (LMCs), postsynaptic to photoreceptors lamina. Two histamine-gated channel genes that could contribute this Drosophila are hclA (also known as ort ) and hclB hisCl1 ), both encoding novel members of Cys-loop receptor superfamily. S2 transfected with these expressed homomeric heteromeric channels. The electrophysiological properties were compared those from isolated...

Drosophila phototransduction is mediated via a G-protein-coupled PLC cascade. Recent evidence, including the demonstration that light evokes rapid contractions of photoreceptors, suggested light-sensitive channels (TRP and TRPL) may be mechanically gated, together with protons released by PLC-mediated PIP 2 hydrolysis. If mechanical gating involved we predicted response to should influenced altering physical properties membrane. To achieve this, used diet manipulate degree saturation...

Sensory neurons integrate information about the world, adapting their sampling to its changes. However, little is understood mechanistically how this primary encoding process, which ultimately limits perception, depends upon stimulus statistics. Here, we analyze open question systematically by using intracellular recordings from fly ( Drosophila melanogaster and Coenosia attenuata ) photoreceptors corresponding stochastic simulations biophysically realistic photoreceptor models. Recordings...

Socially-transmitted behavioural traits can, if they persist in a group of animals over time, give rise to locally-adapted phenotypes that can enhance survival. This capacity is widespread through the animal kingdom, and forms foundation cultural inheritance. While social learning well-documented among insects, particularly insects such as bumblebees, extent which behaviours spread beyond initial kin groups time remains largely unknown. String-pulling non-natural foraging behaviour where...

It is known that an increase in both the mean light intensity and temperature can speed up photoreceptor signals, but it not whether a simultaneous of these physical factors enhances information capacity or leads to coding errors. We studied voltage responses light-adapted Drosophila photoreceptors vivo from 15 30°C, found accelerated phototransduction cascade membrane dynamics, broadening bandwidth reliable signaling with effective Q10 for 6.5. The increased fidelity reliability was result...

Determining the contribution of a single type ion channel to information processing within neuron requires not only knowledge properties but also understanding its function complex system. We studied slow delayed rectifier K + channels neural coding in Drosophila photoreceptors by combining genetic and electrophysiological approaches with biophysical modeling. show that Shab gene encodes identify novel voltage-gated conductance. Analysis vivo recorded voltage responses together their...

Retinal networks must adapt constantly to best present the ever changing visual world brain. Here we test hypothesis that adaptation is a result of different mechanisms at several synaptic connections within network. In companion paper (Part I), showed in photoreceptors (R1–R6) and large monopolar cells (LMC) Drosophila eye improves sensitivity under-represented signals seconds by enhancing both amplitude frequency distribution LMCs' voltage responses repeated naturalistic contrast series....

The small insect brain is often described as an input/output system that executes reflex-like behaviors. It can also initiate neural activity and behaviors intrinsically, seen spontaneous behaviors, different arousal states sleep. However, less known about how intrinsic in circuits affects sensory information processing the variability behavior. Here, by simultaneously monitoring Drosophila's behavioral choices a flight simulator system, we identify associated with act of selecting between...