Abstract
The processing of information within the retino-tectal visual system of amphibians is decomposed into five major operational stages, three of them taking place in the retina and two in the optic tectum. The stages in the retina involve (i) a spatially local high-pass filtering in connection to the perception of moving objects, (ii) separation of the receptor activity into ON- and OFF-channels regarding the distinction of objects on both light and dark backgrounds, (iii) spatial integration via near excitation and far-reaching inhibition. Variation of the spatial range of excitation and inhibition allows to account for typical activities observed in a variety of classes of retina ganglion cells.
Mathematical description of the operations in the tectum opticum include (i) spatial summation of retinal output (mainly of class-2 and class-3 retina ganglion cells), and (ii) direct or indirect lateral inhibition between tectal cells. In the computer simulation, first the output of the mathematical retina model is computed which, then, is used as the input to the tectum model. The full spatio-temporal dynamics is taken into account.
The simulations show that different combinations of strength of lateral inhibition on the one side and the response properties of the retina ganglion cells on the other side determine the response properties of tectal cell types involved in object recognition.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
an der Heiden, U. (1980). Analysis of Neural Networks. - Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer.
an der Heiden, U. and Roth, G. (1983). Cooperative neural processes in amphibian visual prey recognition. In E. Basar, H. Flohr, H. Haken and A.J. Mandell, eds., Synergetics of the Brain. - Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokio: Springer.
Cervantes-Perez, F., Lara, R. and Arbib, M.A. (1985). A neural model of interactions subserving prey-predator discrimination and size preference in anuran amphibia.- J. Theor. Biol. 113: 117–152.
Ewert, J.-P. (1968). Der Einfluss von Zwischenhirndefekten auf die Visuomotorik im Beute- und Fluchtverhalten der Erdröte (Bufo bufo L.) - Z. Vergl. Physiol. 61: 41–70,
Ewert, J.-P. (1972). Zentralnervöse Analyse und Verarbeitung visueller Sinnesreize. Naturwissenschaftliche Rundschau 25: 1–11.
Ewers, J.-P. (1976). The visual system of the toad: Behavioral and physiological studies on a pattern recognition system. In K.V. Kite, ed., The Amphibian Visual System, 141–202. - New York, San Francisco, London: Academic Press.
Ewert, J.-P. (1984). Tectal mechanisms that underlie preycatchinc and avoidance behaviors in toads. In H. Vanegas, ed., Comparative Neurology of the Optic Tectum, 247–416.- New York, London: Plenum Press.
Ewers, J.-P. and Hock, F.J. (1972). Movement sensitive neurons in the toad's retina. Exp. Brain Res. 16: 41–59.
Ewert, J.-P. and von Seelen, W. (1974). Neurobiologie und Systemtheorie eines visuellen Muster-Erkennungsmechanismus bei Kröten. - Biol. Cybern. 14: 167–183.
Ewert, J.-P. and von Wietersheim, A. (1974), Musterauswertung lurch Tectum- und Thalamus/Praetectum-Neurone im visuellen System der Kröte (Bufo bufo L.). - J. Comp. Physiol. 92: 131–148.
Ewers, J.-P., Burghagen, H. and Schürg-Pfeiffer, E. (1983). Neuroethological analysis of the innate releasing mechanism for prey catching in toads. In J.-P. Ewert, R.R. Capranica and D. Ingle, eds., Advances in Vertebrate Neuroethology. NATO ASI Ser. Vol. 56, 413–475. - New York, London: Plenum Press.
Finkenstadt, T. and Ewert, J.-P. (1983a). Processing of area dimensions of visual key stimuli by tectal neurons in Salamandra salamandra. - J. Comp. Physiol. 153: 85–98.
Finkenstädt, T. and Ewert, J.-P. (1983b). Visual pattern discrimination through interactions of neural networks: A combined electrical brain stimulation, brain lesion, and extracellular recording study in Salamandra Salamandra. - J. Comp. Physiol. 153: 99–110.
Grüsser, O.-J. and Grüsser-Cornehls, U, (1968). Neurophysologische Grundlagen visueller angeborener Auslösemechanismen beim Frosch. - Z. Vergl. Physiol. 59: 1–24.
Grüsser, O.-J. and Grüsser-Cornehls, U. (1970). Die Neurophysiologie visuell gesteuerter Verhaltensweisen bei Anuren. - Verh. Dtsch. Zool. Ges. 64: 201–218.
Grüsser, O.-J. and Grüsser-Cornehls, U. (1976). Neurophysiology of the anuran visual system. In R. Llinas and. W. Precht, eds., Frog Neurobiology, 297–385. - Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer.
Grüsser, O.-J., Grüsser-Cornehls, U. and Licker, M.D. (1968). Further studies on the velocity function of movement-detecting class-2 neurons in the frog retina.- Vision Res. 8: 1173–1185.
Grüsser-Cornehls, U. (1984). The neurophysiology of the amphibian optic tectum. In H. Vanegas, ed., Comparative Neurology of the Optic Tectum, 211–245. New York, London: Plenum Press.
Grüsser-Cornehls, U. and Himstedt, W. (1973). Responses of retinal and tectal neurons of the salamander (Salamandra salamandra L.) to moving visual stimuli. - Brain Behav. Evol. 7: 145–168.
Grüsser-Cornehls, U. and Himstedt, W. (1976). The urodele visual system. In K.V. Fite, ed., The Amphibian Visual System. A Multidisciplinary Approach, 203–266. - London, New York: Academic Press.
Herrick, C.J. (1948). The Brain of the Tiger Salamander Ambystoma tigrinum. - Chicago, IL: Univ. Chicago Press.
Himstedt, W. and Roth, G. (1980). Neuronal responses in the tectum opticum of Salamandra to visual prey stimuli. - J. Comp. Physiol. 135: 251–257.
Ingle, D.J. (1973). Two visual systems in the frog. Science 181: 1053–1055.
Ingle, D.J. (1980). Some effects of pretectum lesions on the frog's detection of stationary objects. - Behav. Brain Res. 1: 139–163.
Ingle, D.J. (1983). Brain mechanisms of visual localization by frogs and toads. In J.-P. Ewert, R.R. Capranica and D.J. Ingle, eds., Advances in Vertebrate Neuroethology. NATO ASI Series, Vol. 56, 177–226. - New York, London: Plenum Press.
Lara, R. and Arbib, M.A. (1985). A model of the neural mechanisms responsible for pattern recognition and stimulus specific habituation in toads. - Biol. Cybern. 51: 223–237.
Levine, M-W. and Shefner, I.M. (1977). Variability in ganglion cell firing patterns: Implications for separate “on” and “off” processes. - Vision Res. 17: 765–776.
Manteuffel, G. (1985). Monocular and binocular optic inputs to salamander pretectal neurons: An intracellular recording and HRP-labelling study. - Brain Behav. Evol. 27: 1–10.
Pfeiffer, E. (1975). Musterauswertung lurch retinale Ganglienzellen beim Frosch (Rana esculenta L.). - Diplomarbeit, Universität Darmstadt.
Roth, G. (1978). The role of stimulus movement patterns in the prey catching behavior of Hydromantes genei (Amphibia, Plethodontidae). - J. Comp. Physiol. 123: 261–264.
Roth, G. (1982a). Responses in the optic tectum of the salamander Hydromantes italicus to moving prey stimuli. Exp. Brain Res. 45: 386–392.
Roth, G. (1982b). Beuteerkennungsmechanismen im Tectum opticum von Amphibian - eine vergleichende Untersuchung. Funkt. Biol. Med. 1: 90–98.
Roth, G. (1986). Neural mechanisms of prey recognition: An example in amphibians. In M.E. Feder and G.V. Lauder, eds., Predator-Prey Relationships, 42–68. - Chicago, London: Univ. Chicago Press.
Roth, G. (1987). Visual Behavior in Salamanders. - Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokyo: Springer.
Roth, G. and Jordan, J.-P. (1982). Response characteristics and stratification of tectal neurons in the toad Bufo bufo (L.). - Exp. Brain Res. 45: 393–398.
Schürg-Pfeiffer, E. and Ewert, J.-P. (1981). Investigations of neurons involved in the analysis of gestalt prey features in the frog Rana temporaria. - J. Comp. Physiol. 141: 139–152.
Székely, G. and Lázár, G. (1976). Cellular and synaptic architecture of the optic tectum. In R. Llinas and W. Precht, eds., Frog Neurobiology, 407–434. - Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer.
Varjú, D. (1978). Excitatory and inhibitory processes giving rise to the delayed response in the retinal ganglion cell of the frog. In R. Heim and G. Palm, eds., Theoretical Approaches to Complex Systems. - Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
an der Heiden, U., Roth, G. Mathematical model and simulation of retina and tectum opticum of lower vertebrates. Acta Biotheor 36, 179–212 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00052064
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00052064