An interhemispheric neural circuit allowing binocular integration in the optic tectum.
Nat Commun
; 10(1): 5471, 2019 11 29.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31784529
ABSTRACT
Binocular stereopsis requires the convergence of visual information from corresponding points in visual space seen by two different lines of sight. This may be achieved by superposition of retinal input from each eye onto the same downstream neurons via ipsi- and contralaterally projecting optic nerve fibers. Zebrafish larvae can perceive binocular cues during prey hunting but have exclusively contralateral retinotectal projections. Here we report brain activity in the tectal neuropil ipsilateral to the visually stimulated eye, despite the absence of ipsilateral retinotectal projections. This activity colocalizes with arbors of commissural neurons, termed intertectal neurons (ITNs), that connect the tectal hemispheres. ITNs are GABAergic, establish tectal synapses bilaterally and respond to small moving stimuli. ITN-ablation impairs capture swim initiation when prey is positioned in the binocular strike zone. We propose an intertectal circuit that controls execution of the prey-capture motor program following binocular localization of prey, without requiring ipsilateral retinotectal projections.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Predatory Behavior
/
Visual Pathways
/
Vision, Binocular
/
Superior Colliculi
/
Neuropil
/
Depth Perception
/
GABAergic Neurons
/
Motion Perception
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Nat Commun
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
CIENCIA
Year:
2019
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
France