Design features in vertebrate sensory systems

Abstract

All vertebrates face the problem of analyzing events in their environments. In spite of environmental differences, there are, however, aspects of the problems of analyzing external events that are common. It can be expected that sensory systems thus have certain common design features that reflect the functional constraints placed on sensory systems as information processing networks. This article surveys the organization of vertebrate sensory systems and identifies several major design features. The nature of design features and the assumptions underlying their definition are then discussed. © 1984 by the American Society of Zoologists.