Efficient encoding of motion is mediated by gap junctions in the fly visual system
Fig 5
GJs are particularly important for the fly's survival when encoding is based on the VS 5-6-7 triplet.
(A) RMSE for estimating axes of rotation (1600 samples, each in 5° steps) based on the encoding by the VS 5-6-7 triplet with GJs (blue) and without GJs (orange). The RMSE using all VS 1–10 cells with GJs is shown in magenta. (B) The variability of the estimated axis of rotation for the case of θ = 45° with (blue, with radius 1) and without (orange, with radius 1.5) GJs. Note that with GJs, the error falls within the same quadrant whereas without GJs the error is almost 180°. This means that without GJs, the fly cannot encode pitch axis correctly. Since the VS 5-6-7 triplet is connected downstream to the fly motor system, GJs are essential for the fly’s behavior, e.g., avoiding swats (see text). (C) Similar to (B), but for the θ = 180° stimulus.