Document Detail


Polarization sensitivity in two species of cuttlefish - Sepia plangon (Gray 1849) and Sepia mestus (Gray 1849) - demonstrated with polarized optomotor stimuli.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20833930     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The existence of polarization sensitivity (PS), most likely resulting from the orthogonal arrangement of microvilli in photoreceptors, has been proposed in cephalopods for some time, although it has rarely been examined behaviourally. Here, we tested the mourning cuttlefish, Sepia plangon, and the reaper cuttlefish, Sepia mestus, for polarization sensitivity using a large-field optomotor stimulus containing polarization contrast. Polaroid filter drums with stripes producing alternating e-vectors were rotated around free-moving animals. Polarized optomotor responses were displayed, and these responses were similar to those performed in response to a black-and-white, vertically-striped drum, whereas no responses were displayed to a plain polarizing control drum producing just a vertical e-vector. This indicates that the animals are able to see the contrast between adjacent stripes in the polarizing drum. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of functional polarization sensitivity in cuttlefish.
Authors:
Christopher M Talbot; Justin Marshall
Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of experimental biology     Volume:  213     ISSN:  1477-9145     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Exp. Biol.     Publication Date:  2010 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-09-13     Completed Date:  2011-01-12     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0243705     Medline TA:  J Exp Biol     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  3364-70     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
The Sensory Neurobiology Group, Queensland Brain Institute and the School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia. chris.talbot@uq.edu.au
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Decapodiformes / physiology*
Nystagmus, Optokinetic / physiology
Photic Stimulation
Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / physiology
Species Specificity
Vision, Ocular / physiology*

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