The brain behind straight-line orientation in dung beetles

2019 ◽  
Vol 222 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. jeb192450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basil el Jundi ◽  
Emily Baird ◽  
Marcus J. Byrne ◽  
Marie Dacke
Keyword(s):  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Line Orientation ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
The Brain

scholarly journals The effect of step size on straight-line orientation

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (157) ◽  
pp. 20190181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lana Khaldy ◽  
Orit Peleg ◽  
Claudia Tocco ◽  
L. Mahadevan ◽  
Marcus Byrne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Information ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Line Orientation ◽  
Step Size ◽  
Directional Information ◽  
Straight Path ◽  
Directional Error ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Motor Error ◽  
Orientation Cues

Moving along a straight path is a surprisingly difficult task. This is because, with each ensuing step, noise is generated in the motor and sensory systems, causing the animal to deviate from its intended route. When relying solely on internal sensory information to correct for this noise, the directional error generated with each stride accumulates, ultimately leading to a curved path. In contrast, external compass cues effectively allow the animal to correct for errors in its bearing. Here, we studied straight-line orientation in two different sized dung beetles. This allowed us to characterize and model the size of the directional error generated with each step, in the absence of external visual compass cues ( motor error ) as well as in the presence of these cues ( compass and motor errors ). In addition, we model how dung beetles balance the influence of internal and external orientation cues as they orient along straight paths under the open sky. We conclude that the directional error that unavoidably accumulates as the beetle travels is inversely proportional to the step size of the insect, and that both beetle species weigh the two sources of directional information in a similar fashion.

scholarly journals Compass Cue Integration and Its Relation to the Visual Ecology of Three Tribes of Ball-Rolling Dung Beetles

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 526
Author(s):  
Lana Khaldy ◽  
Claudia Tocco ◽  
Marcus Byrne ◽  
Marie Dacke
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Relative Weight ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Visual Ecology ◽  
Line Orientation ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Tall Grass ◽  
Directional Information ◽  
Ball Rolling ◽  
Straight Line

To guide their characteristic straight-line orientation away from the dung pile, ball-rolling dung beetles steer according to directional information provided by celestial cues, which, among the most relevant are the sun and polarised skylight. Most studies regarding the use of celestial cues and their influence on the orientation system of the diurnal ball-rolling beetle have been performed on beetles of the tribe Scarabaeini living in open habitats. These beetles steer primarily according to the directional information provided by the sun. In contrast, Sisyphus fasciculatus, a species from a different dung-beetle tribe (the Sisyphini) that lives in habitats with closely spaced trees and tall grass, relies predominantly on directional information from the celestial pattern of polarised light. To investigate the influence of visual ecology on the relative weight of these cues, we studied the orientation strategy of three different tribes of dung beetles (Scarabaeini, Sisyphini and Gymnopleurini) living within the same biome, but in different habitat types. We found that species within a tribe share the same orientation strategy, but that this strategy differs across the tribes; Scarabaeini, living in open habitats, attribute the greatest relative weight to the directional information from the sun; Sisyphini, living in closed habitats, mainly relies on directional information from polarised skylight; and Gymnopleurini, also living in open habitats, appear to weight both cues equally. We conclude that, despite exhibiting different body size, eye size and morphology, dung beetles nevertheless manage to solve the challenge of straight-line orientation by weighting visual cues that are particular to the habitat in which they are found. This system is however dynamic, allowing them to operate equally well even in the absence of the cue given the greatest relative weight by the particular species.

Dung beetles ignore landmarks for straight-line orientation

2012 ◽  
Vol 199 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Dacke ◽  
Marcus Byrne ◽  
Jochen Smolka ◽  
Eric Warrant ◽  
Emily Baird
Keyword(s):  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Line Orientation ◽  
Straight Line

1. Observations on the Anatomy of the Rorqual (a Whalebone Whale of the largest magnitude), drawn up from the dissection of a specimen found dead off North Berwick

1845 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 14-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Knox
Keyword(s):  
Middle Part ◽  
Anatomical Structure ◽  
Entire Length ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
The Brain

This paper, composed ehiefly of anatomical details regarding the anatomical structure of the Rorqual, scarcely admits of abridgement. The author has described the skeleton of the cavity for receiving the brain and the mechanism of the larynx at greatest length. The entire length of the whale, measured by a straight line, drawn on the sand from the nose to the middle part of the tail, and making a slight allowance for the curved position in which the animal lay, was 80 feet. Length of the head 23 feet. The girth of the carcass at the pectoral extremities (though the animal had been ten days on the beach, and was much collapsed) 34 feet. Breadth of the tail from tip to tip' 20 feet. The author describes the appearance of the mouth, lined with whalebone, as very surprising.

scholarly journals Visual Navigation in Nocturnal Insects

Physiology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 182-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Warrant ◽  
Marie Dacke
Keyword(s):  
Visual Processing ◽  
Visual Navigation ◽  
Compound Eyes ◽  
Visual Landmarks ◽  
Processing Strategies ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Celestial Compass ◽  
The Brain

Despite their tiny eyes and brains, nocturnal insects have evolved a remarkable capacity to visually navigate at night. Whereas some use moonlight or the stars as celestial compass cues to maintain a straight-line course, others use visual landmarks to navigate to and from their nest. These impressive abilities rely on highly sensitive compound eyes and specialized visual processing strategies in the brain.

An Electronic Model of a Neural Correlate to Experience Obtained When the Stimulus Object is a Straight Line or a Circle

1967 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristian Holt-Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Stimulus Object ◽  
The Other ◽  
Neural Correlate ◽  
Close Analogy ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Electronic Model ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
The Brain

An attempt was made to present an electronic model of the neural correlate to the experiences of straightness and circularity on the basis of experimental data. Two sets of experiments were described. In one Ss had numerous kinds of experience when the stimulus object was a straight line or a circle. These experiments demonstrated a close relationship between a straight line and a circle in experience. The other set of experiments consisted of adjusting the electric voltages fed into a cathode ray oscilloscope so that the displays on the screen corresponded closely to some of the experiences reported by subjects in the first set of experiments. A plausible working hypothesis was put forward on the basis that the electronic functions underlying the working of a cathode ray oscilloscope suggest a close analogy with the brain function underlying the experiences obtained when the stimulus object is a straight line or a circle.

scholarly journals The role of the sun in the celestial compass of dung beetles

2014 ◽  
Vol 369 (1636) ◽  
pp. 20130036 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Dacke ◽  
Basil el Jundi ◽  
Jochen Smolka ◽  
Marcus Byrne ◽  
Emily Baird
Keyword(s):  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Relative Influence ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Azimuthal Position ◽  
Ball Rolling ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Celestial Compass ◽  
Compass System

Recent research has focused on the different types of compass cues available to ball-rolling beetles for orientation, but little is known about the relative precision of each of these cues and how they interact. In this study, we find that the absolute orientation error of the celestial compass of the day-active dung beetle Scarabaeus lamarcki doubles from 16° at solar elevations below 60° to an error of 29° at solar elevations above 75°. As ball-rolling dung beetles rely solely on celestial compass cues for their orientation, these insects experience a large decrease in orientation precision towards the middle of the day. We also find that in the compass system of dung beetles, the solar cues and the skylight cues are used together and share the control of orientation behaviour. Finally, we demonstrate that the relative influence of the azimuthal position of the sun for straight-line orientation decreases as the sun draws closer to the horizon. In conclusion, ball-rolling dung beetles possess a dynamic celestial compass system in which the orientation precision and the relative influence of the solar compass cues change over the course of the day.

Biochemistry

1936 ◽  
Vol 82 (339) ◽  
pp. 431-433
Author(s):  
J. H. Quastel
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Brain Tissue ◽  
Brain Slice ◽  
Brain Slices ◽  
Ringer Solution ◽  
Living Animal ◽  
Dominant Form ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
The Brain

I want to speak of the work we have been doing in Cardiff on the metabolism of the nervous system. The work was carried out there because of the importance of the narcosis treatment. It seemed to us there a pity that a treatment such as that should be given up because of the considerable toxicity possible in relation to it. The research was undertaken to see if we could diminish the toxicity, at the same time seeking an idea as to how narcotics work. I ask that you will realize that the main substance burned by the brain is glucose. The dominant form of metabolism in the nervous system is connected with the breakdown of glucose and lactic acid, and this can be proved by experiment in the living animal and with brain-tissue in vitro. In doing experiments we are not able to carry out work with human brain, because we cannot get human tissue fresh enough, so we have to carry out experiments with animals. They are carried out in this way. We cut slices of the cortex of the brain as soon as the animal is dead, that is to say, within ten minutes of death the brain is out and slices have been cut. They are placed in a physiological medium in the presence of glucose, and we follow the metabolism of that tissue, which allows us to estimate the amount of oxygen being taken up by the brain. If luminal, chloretone, hyoscine or somnifaine be placed with the brain-tissue, then the respiration, instead of being at the usual level, starts lower down, and maintains a straight line. We wanted to see whether this action is reversible or irreversible. If the latter, then on removing the brain-slices from the narcotic it should no longer behave like a normal piece of tissue. Actually, when the brain-slice is removed and placed in Ringer solution, with no narcotic, the respiration goes up and becomes equal to that shown by the slice which had no narcotic. That is to say, the process is reversible.

Lack of Degradation in Visuospatial Perception of Line Orientation after One Night of Sleep Loss

2007 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 276-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
William D. S. Killgore ◽  
Athena P. Kendall ◽  
Jessica M. Richards ◽  
Sharon A. McBride
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Deprivation ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Spatial Perception ◽  
Sleep Loss ◽  
Line Orientation ◽  
Performance Deficits ◽  
Visuospatial Perception ◽  
Psychomotor Vigilance ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Orientation Test

Sleep deprivation impairs a variety of cognitive abilities including vigilance, attention, and executive function. Although sleep loss has been shown to impair tasks requiring visual attention and spatial perception, it is not clear whether these deficits are exclusively a function of reduced attention and vigilance or if there are also alterations in visuospatial perception. Visuospatial perception and sustained vigilance performance were therefore examined in 54 healthy volunteers at rested baseline and again after one night of sleep deprivation using the Judgment of Line Orientation Test and a computerized test of psychomotor vigilance. Whereas psychomotor vigilance declined significantly from baseline to sleep-deprived testing, scores on the Judgment of Line Orientation did not change significantly. Results suggest that documented performance deficits associated with sleep loss are unlikely to be the result of dysfunction within systems of the brain responsible for simple visuospatial perception and processing of line angles.

scholarly journals Classifying a type of brain disorder in children: an effective fMRI based deep attempt

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 260
Author(s):  
Abeer M Mahmoud ◽  
Hanen Karamti
Keyword(s):  
Neural Networks ◽  
Children With Autism ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Restricted Boltzmann Machines ◽  
Brain Disorder ◽  
Boltzmann Machines ◽  
Learning Framework ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
The Brain

<span>Recent advanced intelligent learning approaches that are based on using neural networks in medical diagnosing increased researcher expectations. In fact, the literature proved a straight-line relation of the exact needs and the achieved results. Accordingly, it encouraged promising directions of applying these approaches toward saving time and efforts. This paper proposes a novel hybrid deep learning framework that is based on the restricted boltzmann machines (RBM) and the contractive autoencoder (CA) to classify the brain disorder and healthy control cases in children less than 12 years. The RBM focuses on obtaining the discriminative set of high guided features in the classification process, while the CA provides the regularization and the robustness of features for optimal objectives. The proposed framework diagnosed children with autism recording accuracy of 91, 14% and proved enhancement compared to literature.</span>

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