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Retinal asymmetry in birds.
N S Hart1, J C Partridge, I C Cuthill
1School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Vision, Touch and Hearing Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Bristol, Brisbane, BS8 1UG, QLD 4072, UK. n.hart@vthrc.uq.edu.au.
Current Biology : CB
|February 9, 2000
Summary
Birds show eye preference, previously linked to brain specialization. New research reveals retinal asymmetry in European starlings, suggesting a deeper cause for visual lateralization in birds.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Comparative Anatomy
- Avian Biology
Background:
- Vertebrate sensory systems typically exhibit bilateral symmetry.
- Birds demonstrate preferential eye use and varying visual task performance between eyes.
- Cerebral hemispheric specialization due to early photostimulation was the presumed cause of avian visual lateralization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the morphological basis of visual lateralization in birds.
- To determine if retinal asymmetry contributes to preferential eye use in European starlings.
Main Methods:
- Morphological analysis of European starling retinas.
- Assessment of photoreceptor distribution within the retina.
Main Results:
- Evidence of morphological asymmetry in European starling retinae regarding photoreceptor distribution.
- This is the first documented retinal asymmetry in any bird species.
Conclusions:
- Retinal photoreceptor distribution asymmetry is a novel factor in avian visual lateralization.
- Future studies on visually mediated behaviors in birds should consider retinal composition.