Polarization vision in cephalopods

Abstract

Polarization sensitivity, namely sensitivity to linearly polarized light, has been known in cephalopods for over 50 years. So far our neurological understanding of this polarization sensitivity has remained at the level of the retina, and our knowledge of how polarization information is processed is lacking. However, when examining function, a range of tasks in which polarization vision plays a role have been identified. These include, but are not limited to, detailed examination of the environment, target (including both prey and predator) detection and recognition, short range navigation, image stabilization and most likely communication. Neurological examination of the processing of polarization information and its integration with other sensory inputs on the one hand, along with a physical understanding of the propagation of the polarization signals under various conditions, are needed for a better understanding of the function of polarization vision in the lives of cephalopods.