Neuroscientists Map Brain Circuitry for Color Perception in Fruit Flies
Columbia University research uncovers how specific neurons in the optic lobe transform light wavelengths into color perceptions.
Overview
- Researchers identified neurons in fruit flies' optic lobes that respond selectively to different hues.
- The discovery was enabled by a detailed connectome of the fruit fly brain.
- Mathematical models were used to simulate and understand the neural circuitry involved.
- Disrupting the recurrent connectivity in these circuits caused the loss of hue-selective activity.
- Findings may help explain neural mechanisms underlying color perception in other species, including humans.