Dr Mikko Juusola: LMC studies

First Visual Synapse and Large Monopolar Cells

After first developing in vivo recording procedures we have been collecting high quality intracellular data from photoreceptors and postsynaptic LMCs of Drosophila (Zheng et al., 2006) in order to characterise the molecular dynamics, adaptive properties and information transfer of the first visual synapse. This synapse constitutes the first step in visual motion detection pathway to the fly brain. The main goal of our LMC studies has been a better understanding of the neural computations in the networks of in vivo visual neurones. Using a centre-and-surround stimulus, natural image sequences and genetic manipulations, we have investigated the computational and biophysical properties of the photoreceptor-LMC synapse in the first optic neuropile, the lamina. The emphasis has been on determining the responses of LMCs to naturalistic inputs, assess the role of lateral inhibitory inputs to these neurones and investigate the role of LMCs in motion processing. The early downloads are about our previous work in Calliphora.