Directional Preference in Avian Midbrain Saliency Computing Nucleus Reflects a Well-Designed Receptive Field Structure
Neurons responding sensitively to motions in several rather than all directions have been identified in many sensory systems. Although this directional preference has been demonstrated by previous studies to exist in the isthmi pars magnocellularis (Imc) of pigeon (<i>Columba livia</i>),...
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/9/1143 |
| _version_ | 1797505843285983232 |
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| author | Jiangtao Wang Longlong Qian Songwei Wang Li Shi Zhizhong Wang |
| author_facet | Jiangtao Wang Longlong Qian Songwei Wang Li Shi Zhizhong Wang |
| author_sort | Jiangtao Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Neurons responding sensitively to motions in several rather than all directions have been identified in many sensory systems. Although this directional preference has been demonstrated by previous studies to exist in the isthmi pars magnocellularis (Imc) of pigeon (<i>Columba livia</i>), which plays a key role in the midbrain saliency computing network, the dynamic response characteristics and the physiological basis underlying this phenomenon are unclear. Herein, dots moving in 16 directions and a biologically plausible computational model were used. We found that pigeon Imc’s significant responses for objects moving in preferred directions benefit the long response duration and high instantaneous firing rate. Furthermore, the receptive field structures predicted by a computational model, which captures the actual directional tuning curves, agree with the real data collected from population Imc units. These results suggested that directional preference in Imc may be internally prebuilt by elongating the vertical axis of the receptive field, making predators attack from the dorsal-ventral direction and conspecifics flying away in the ventral-dorsal direction, more salient for avians, which is of great ecological and physiological significance for survival. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:24:08Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:24:08Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-aa923d549bd44a9ca808406afe50a1bf2023-11-23T07:42:58ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-04-01129114310.3390/ani12091143Directional Preference in Avian Midbrain Saliency Computing Nucleus Reflects a Well-Designed Receptive Field StructureJiangtao Wang0Longlong Qian1Songwei Wang2Li Shi3Zhizhong Wang4Henan Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Brain-Computer Interface Technology, School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaHenan Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Brain-Computer Interface Technology, School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaHenan Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Brain-Computer Interface Technology, School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaHenan Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Brain-Computer Interface Technology, School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaHenan Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Brain-Computer Interface Technology, School of Electrical Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaNeurons responding sensitively to motions in several rather than all directions have been identified in many sensory systems. Although this directional preference has been demonstrated by previous studies to exist in the isthmi pars magnocellularis (Imc) of pigeon (<i>Columba livia</i>), which plays a key role in the midbrain saliency computing network, the dynamic response characteristics and the physiological basis underlying this phenomenon are unclear. Herein, dots moving in 16 directions and a biologically plausible computational model were used. We found that pigeon Imc’s significant responses for objects moving in preferred directions benefit the long response duration and high instantaneous firing rate. Furthermore, the receptive field structures predicted by a computational model, which captures the actual directional tuning curves, agree with the real data collected from population Imc units. These results suggested that directional preference in Imc may be internally prebuilt by elongating the vertical axis of the receptive field, making predators attack from the dorsal-ventral direction and conspecifics flying away in the ventral-dorsal direction, more salient for avians, which is of great ecological and physiological significance for survival.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/9/1143pigeonisthmi pars magnocellularismotion directioncomputational modelbiological plausibility |
| spellingShingle | Jiangtao Wang Longlong Qian Songwei Wang Li Shi Zhizhong Wang Directional Preference in Avian Midbrain Saliency Computing Nucleus Reflects a Well-Designed Receptive Field Structure Animals pigeon isthmi pars magnocellularis motion direction computational model biological plausibility |
| title | Directional Preference in Avian Midbrain Saliency Computing Nucleus Reflects a Well-Designed Receptive Field Structure |
| title_full | Directional Preference in Avian Midbrain Saliency Computing Nucleus Reflects a Well-Designed Receptive Field Structure |
| title_fullStr | Directional Preference in Avian Midbrain Saliency Computing Nucleus Reflects a Well-Designed Receptive Field Structure |
| title_full_unstemmed | Directional Preference in Avian Midbrain Saliency Computing Nucleus Reflects a Well-Designed Receptive Field Structure |
| title_short | Directional Preference in Avian Midbrain Saliency Computing Nucleus Reflects a Well-Designed Receptive Field Structure |
| title_sort | directional preference in avian midbrain saliency computing nucleus reflects a well designed receptive field structure |
| topic | pigeon isthmi pars magnocellularis motion direction computational model biological plausibility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/9/1143 |
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