Filtering of Visual Information in the Tectum by an Identified Neural Circuit

Authors

Filippo Del Bene, University of California, San Francisco
Claire Wyart, University of California, Berkeley
Estuardo Robles, University of California, San FranciscoFollow
Amanda Tran, University of California, San Francisco
Loren Looger, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Farm Research Campus
Ethan K. Scott, University of California, San Francisco
Ehud Y. Isacoff, University of California, Berkeley
Herwig Baier, University of California, San Francisco

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-29-2010

Publication Title

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 γ-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.

Volume

330

Issue

6004

First Page

669

Last Page

673

DOI

10.1126/science.1192949

ISSN

00368075

Comments

Peer reviewed accepted manuscript.

Recommended Citation

Del Bene, Filippo; Wyart, Claire; Robles, Estuardo; Tran, Amanda; Looger, Loren; Scott, Ethan K.; Isacoff, Ehud Y.; and Baier, Herwig, "Filtering of Visual Information in the Tectum by an Identified Neural Circuit" (2010). Neuroscience: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/nsc_facpubs/73