scholarly journals Correlation versus gradient type motion detectors: the pros and cons

2007 ◽  
Vol 362 (1479) ◽  
pp. 369-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Borst
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Visual Motion ◽  
Automatic Gain Control ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Gain Control ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Motion Information ◽  
Stimulus Velocity ◽  
Functional Aspects ◽  
Gradient Type

Visual motion contains a wealth of information about self-motion as well as the three-dimensional structure of the environment. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for any organism with eyes. However, visual motion information is not explicitly represented at the photoreceptor level, but rather has to be computed by the nervous system from the changing retinal images as one of the first processing steps. Two prominent models have been proposed to account for this neural computation: the Reichardt detector and the gradient detector. While the Reichardt detector correlates the luminance levels derived from two adjacent image points, the gradient detector provides an estimate of the local retinal image velocity by dividing the spatial and the temporal luminance gradient. As a consequence of their different internal processing structure, both the models differ in a number of functional aspects such as their dependence on the spatial-pattern structure as well as their sensitivity to photon noise. These different properties lead to the proposal that an ideal motion detector should be of Reichardt type at low luminance levels, but of gradient type at high luminance levels. However, experiments on the fly visual systems provided unambiguous evidence in favour of the Reichardt detector under all luminance conditions. Does this mean that the fly nervous system uses suboptimal computations, or is there a functional aspect missing in the optimality criterion? In the following, I will argue in favour of the latter, showing that Reichardt detectors have an automatic gain control allowing them to dynamically adjust their input–output relationships to the statistical range of velocities presented, while gradient detectors do not have this property. As a consequence, Reichardt detectors, but not gradient detectors, always provide a maximum amount of information about stimulus velocity over a large range of velocities. This important property might explain why Reichardt type of computations have been demonstrated to underlie the extraction of motion information in the fly visual system under all luminance levels.

Confocal laser microscopy of impregnated central nervous system tissue

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 94-95
Author(s):  
J.N. Turner ◽  
M. Siemens ◽  
D. Szarowski ◽  
D.N. Collins
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Confocal Laser ◽  
High Contrast ◽  
Central Nervous System Tissue ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Reflected Light

A classic preparation of central nervous system tissue (CNS) is the Golgi procedure popularized by Cajal. The method is partially specific as only a few cells are impregnated with silver chromate usualy after osmium post fixation. Samples are observable by light (LM) or electron microscopy (EM). However, the impregnation is often so dense that structures are masked in EM, and the osmium background may be undesirable in LM. Gold toning is used for a subtle but high contrast EM preparation, and osmium can be omitted for LM. We are investigating these preparations as part of a study to develop correlative LM and EM (particularly HVEM) methodologies in neurobiology. Confocal light microscopy is particularly useful as the impregnated cells have extensive three-dimensional structure in tissue samples from one to several hundred micrometers thick. Boyde has observed similar preparations in the tandem scanning reflected light microscope (TSRLM).

AN ANALOG VLSI INPLEMENTATION OF A VISUAL INTERNEURON: ENHANCED SENSORY PROCESSING THROUGH BIOPHYSICAL MODELING

1999 ◽  
Vol 09 (05) ◽  
pp. 391-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
REID R. HARRISON ◽  
CHRISTOF KOCH
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Processing ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Visual Motion ◽  
Gain Control ◽  
Analog Vlsi ◽  
Neuronal Model ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Motion Information ◽  
Biophysical Modeling ◽  
Pattern Size

Flies are capable of rapid, coordinated flight through unstructured environments. This flight is guided by visual motion information that is extracted from photoreceptors in a robust manner. One feature of the fly's visual processing that adds to this robustness is the saturation of wide-field motion-sensitive neuron responses with increasing pattern size. This makes the cell's responses less dependent on the sparseness of the optical flow field while retaining motion information. By implementing a compartmental neuronal model in silicon, we add this "gain control" to an existing analog VLSI model of fly vision. This results in enhanced performance in a compact, low-power CMOS motion sensor. Our silicon system also demonstrates that modern, biophysically-detailed models of neural sensory processing systems can be instantiated in VLSI hardware.

Conformation of Ribosomes from Escherichia Coli

1974 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 210-211
Author(s):  
M. Boublik ◽  
W. Hellmann ◽  
F. Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Binding Sites ◽  
Ribosomal Proteins ◽  
Fluorescent Dyes ◽  
Protein Biosynthesis ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Complete Understanding ◽  
And Function

The present knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of ribosomes is far too limited to enable a complete understanding of the various roles which ribosomes play in protein biosynthesis. The spatial arrangement of proteins and ribonuclec acids in ribosomes can be analysed in many ways. Determination of binding sites for individual proteins on ribonuclec acid and locations of the mutual positions of proteins on the ribosome using labeling with fluorescent dyes, cross-linking reagents, neutron-diffraction or antibodies against ribosomal proteins seem to be most successful approaches. Structure and function of ribosomes can be correlated be depleting the complete ribosomes of some proteins to the functionally inactive core and by subsequent partial reconstitution in order to regain active ribosomal particles.

Three-Dimensional Reconstruction Using Stereo Pairs from Serial Thick Sections

1977 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 562-563
Author(s):  
Robert Glaeser ◽  
Thomas Bauer ◽  
David Grano
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Serial Sections ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Freeze Dried ◽  
Dimensional Reconstruction ◽  
Stereo Imagery ◽  
Whole Mounts

In transmission electron microscopy, the 3-dimensional structure of an object is usually obtained in one of two ways. For objects which can be included in one specimen, as for example with elements included in freeze- dried whole mounts and examined with a high voltage microscope, stereo pairs can be obtained which exhibit the 3-D structure of the element. For objects which can not be included in one specimen, the 3-D shape is obtained by reconstruction from serial sections. However, without stereo imagery, only detail which remains constant within the thickness of the section can be used in the reconstruction; consequently, the choice is between a low resolution reconstruction using a few thick sections and a better resolution reconstruction using many thin sections, generally a tedious chore. This paper describes an approach to 3-D reconstruction which uses stereo images of serial thick sections to reconstruct an object including detail which changes within the depth of an individual thick section.

Electron Microscopy of Cytoplasmic Contractile Proteins

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 606-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.D. Pollard ◽  
P. Maupin
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Actin Filaments ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Contractile Proteins ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Cytoplasmic Matrix ◽  
Computer Image Processing ◽  
Nonmuscle Cells

In this paper we review some of the contributions that electron microscopy has made to the analysis of actin and myosin from nonmuscle cells. We place particular emphasis upon the limitations of the ultrastructural techniques used to study these cytoplasmic contractile proteins, because it is not widely recognized how difficult it is to preserve these elements of the cytoplasmic matrix for electron microscopy. The structure of actin filaments is well preserved for electron microscope observation by negative staining with uranyl acetate (Figure 1). In fact, to a resolution of about 3nm the three-dimensional structure of actin filaments determined by computer image processing of electron micrographs of negatively stained specimens (Moore et al., 1970) is indistinguishable from the structure revealed by X-ray diffraction of living muscle.

A New 1000kv Electron Microscope

1969 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 100-101
Author(s):  
J.L. Williams ◽  
K. Heathcote ◽  
E.J. Greer
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
Direct Observation ◽  
High Voltage ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Specimen Thickness ◽  
Voltage Electron ◽  
High Voltage Electron Microscope ◽  
Dynamic Experiments ◽  
Conventional Instrument

High Voltage Electron Microscope already offers exciting experimental possibilities to Biologists and Materials Scientists because the increased specimen thickness allows direct observation of three dimensional structure and dynamic experiments on effectively bulk specimens. This microscope is designed to give maximum accessibility and space in the specimen region for the special stages which are required. At the same time it provides an ease of operation similar to a conventional instrument.

High-voltage electron microscopy of maxillary gland of spirochete-infected brine shrimp: lesion of efferent tubule

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 362-363
Author(s):  
G. E. Tyson ◽  
M. J. Song
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
High Voltage ◽  
Brine Shrimp ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
High Voltage Electron Microscopy ◽  
Voltage Electron ◽  
High Voltage Electron ◽  
Infected Adult

Natural populations of the brine shrimp, Artemia, may possess spirochete- infected animals in low numbers. The ultrastructure of Artemia's spirochete has been described by conventional transmission electron microscopy. In infected shrimp, spirochetal cells were abundant in the blood and also occurred intra- and extracellularly in the three organs examined, i.e. the maxillary gland (segmental excretory organ), the integument, and certain muscles The efferent-tubule region of the maxillary gland possessed a distinctive lesion comprised of a group of spirochetes, together with numerous small vesicles, situated in a cave-like indentation of the base of the tubule epithelium. in some instances the basal lamina at a lesion site was clearly discontinuous. High-voltage electron microscopy has now been used to study lesions of the efferent tubule, with the aim of understanding better their three-dimensional structure.Tissue from one maxillary gland of an infected, adult, female brine shrimp was used for HVEM study.

Mitochondrial Reconstructions Based on Serial Thick Sections and HVEM

1975 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 286-287
Author(s):  
Jerome J. Paulin
Keyword(s):  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Posterior Pole ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Stereo Imaging ◽  
Thin Sections ◽  
Anatomical Features ◽  
The Past ◽  
Cellular Components ◽  
Mitochondrial Reticulum

Within the past decade it has become apparent that HVEM offers the biologist a means to explore the three-dimensional structure of cells and/or organelles. Stereo-imaging of thick sections (e.g. 0.25-10 μm) not only reveals anatomical features of cellular components, but also reduces errors of interpretation associated with overlap of structures seen in thick sections. Concomitant with stereo-imaging techniques conventional serial Sectioning methods developed with thin sections have been adopted to serial thick sections (≥ 0.25 μm). Three-dimensional reconstructions of the chondriome of several species of trypanosomatid flagellates have been made from tracings of mitochondrial profiles on cellulose acetate sheets. The sheets are flooded with acetone, gluing them together, and the model sawed from the composite and redrawn.The extensive mitochondrial reticulum can be seen in consecutive thick sections of (0.25 μm thick) Crithidia fasciculata (Figs. 1-2). Profiles of the mitochondrion are distinguishable from the anterior apex of the cell (small arrow, Fig. 1) to the posterior pole (small arrow, Fig. 2).

Electron crystallographic determination of the 3-D structure of staurolite at atomic resolution

1991 ◽  
Vol 49 ◽  
pp. 540-541
Author(s):  
Kenneth H. Downing ◽  
Hu Meisheng ◽  
Hans-Rudolf Went ◽  
Michael A. O'Keefe
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
High Resolution Electron Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Resolution ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Structure Information ◽  
Resolution Electron ◽  
Scattering Effects ◽  
High Resolution Images ◽  
Effects Of Radiation

With current advances in electron microscope design, high resolution electron microscopy has become routine, and point resolutions of better than 2Å have been obtained in images of many inorganic crystals. Although this resolution is sufficient to resolve interatomic spacings, interpretation generally requires comparison of experimental images with calculations. Since the images are two-dimensional representations of projections of the full three-dimensional structure, information is invariably lost in the overlapping images of atoms at various heights. The technique of electron crystallography, in which information from several views of a crystal is combined, has been developed to obtain three-dimensional information on proteins. The resolution in images of proteins is severely limited by effects of radiation damage. In principle, atomic-resolution, 3D reconstructions should be obtainable from specimens that are resistant to damage. The most serious problem would appear to be in obtaining high-resolution images from areas that are thin enough that dynamical scattering effects can be ignored.

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