Extracellular recordings reveal absence of magneto sensitive units in the avian optic tectum

Ramírez E.; Marín G.; Mpodozis, J; Letelier, JC

Keywords: optic tectum, tectofugal, Magnetoreception, Avian vision

Abstract

There is a consensus that birds detect the earth's magnetic field and use some of its features for orientation and homing purposes. Since the late 1960s, when the first solid behavioral evidence of magnetoreception was obtained, much research has been devoted to describing the ethological aspects of this behavior. The neurophysiological basis of magnetoreception has been much less studied, although a frequently cited 1986 report described a high prevalence (70 %) of magneto-sensitive neurons in the pigeon optic tectum with high signal-to-noise ratios (Semm and Demaine, J Comp Physiol A 159:619-625, 1986). Here, we repeated these neurophysiological experiments using anesthetized as well as awake pigeons and new recording techniques. Our data indicate that magneto-sensitive units do not exist in the avian tectum.

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Título según WOS: Extracellular recordings reveal absence of magneto sensitive units in the avian optic tectum
Título según SCOPUS: Extracellular recordings reveal absence of magneto sensitive units in the avian optic tectum
Título de la Revista: JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY A-NEUROETHOLOGY SENSORY NEURAL AND BEHAVIORAL PHYSIOLOGY
Volumen: 200
Número: 12
Editorial: Springer
Fecha de publicación: 2014
Página de inicio: 983
Página final: 996
Idioma: English
DOI:

10.1007/s00359-014-0947-6

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS