Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Signal processing in a simple visual system: the locust ocellar system and its synapses.

Peter J Simmons1

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, United Kingdom. p.j.simons@ncl.ac.uk

Microscopy Research and Technique
|March 6, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Large, second-order neurons (L-neurons) in locusts efficiently transmit visual signals. Their unique synaptic properties allow for studying graded potential transmission and light adaptation in the visual system.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Looming detection by identified visual interneurons during larval development of the locust Locusta migratoria.

The Journal of experimental biology·2013
Same author

Predator versus prey: locust looming-detector neuron and behavioural responses to stimuli representing attacking bird predators.

PloS one·2012
Same author

The effects of temperature on signalling in ocellar neurons of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria.

Journal of comparative physiology. A, Neuroethology, sensory, neural, and behavioral physiology·2011
Same author

Structural organization of the presynaptic density at identified synapses in the locust central nervous system.

The Journal of comparative neurology·2011
Same author

Sparse but specific temporal coding by spikes in an insect sensory-motor ocellar pathway.

The Journal of experimental biology·2010
Same author

Escapes with and without preparation: the neuroethology of visual startle in locusts.

Journal of insect physiology·2010

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sensory Biology
  • Insect Physiology

Background:

  • L-neurons are large, second-order neurons in the locust ocelli, crucial for transmitting visual information to the brain.
  • They possess simple morphology and axons that conduct graded potentials with minimal signal loss, making them ideal for studying synaptic transmission.
  • L-neurons exhibit high sensitivity to light changes due to amplified signaling at photoreceptor synapses and adapt to varying light intensities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the properties of L-neurons in locusts as a model system for understanding graded potential transmission.
  • To explore the mechanisms of synaptic transmission, including excitatory and inhibitory synapses, and their role in visual processing.
  • To analyze the factors limiting the resolution of graded potential transfer at inhibitory synapses.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Methods:

  • Electrophysiological recordings to study synaptic potentials and transmission.
  • Analysis of L-neuron morphology and synaptic contacts using electron microscopy.
  • Investigation of synaptic properties, including gain, adaptation, and signal transmission characteristics.

Main Results:

  • L-neurons effectively transmit graded potentials to the brain with little decrement.
  • Excitatory synapses from L1-3 neurons exhibit tonic transmission, while inhibitory synapses show rapid decrement, often requiring presynaptic spikes.
  • The resolution of graded potential transfer at inhibitory synapses is limited by variability in neurotransmitter release mechanisms.

Conclusions:

  • L-neurons serve as an excellent model for studying the transmission of graded potentials in the nervous system.
  • Synaptic properties of L-neurons, including high gain and adaptation, are critical for processing visual information and maintaining contrast signaling.
  • Understanding the limitations of synaptic transmission, particularly at inhibitory synapses, provides insights into neural coding.