Neural Mechanisms of Visual Course Control in Insects

Abstract

Visual orientation and course-stabilization of flying insects rely essentially on the evaluation of the retinal motion patterns perceived by the animals during flight. Apparent motions of the entire surrounding indicate the direction and speed of self-motion in space and are used as visual feedback signals during optomotor course-control manoeuvres. Discontinuities in the motion pattern and relative motions between pattern-segments indicate the existence of stationary or moving objects and represent the basic visual cues for flight-orientation during fixation-and tracking-sequences, and possibly also for the avoidance of obstacles, and the selection of landing sites.