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Ethometrical Investigations into the Spatial Interaction within the Visual System of Velia caprai (Hemiptera, Heteroptera)

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Information Processing in the Visual Systems of Anthropods

Abstract

In spontaneous binary choices between visual prey dummies conclusions are made from the relative frequencies of choice (= stimulus values) to the spatial interaction within the visual system of the water bug Velia caprai. As the zero point of the frequency distribution is 5.0 probit (=50% reaction), deviations to higher or lower indicate excitation or inhibitation resulting from stimulus variation. When two discs are stimulating simultaneously with a constant horizontal angular distance of 10.3°, lateral inhibition arises in relation to their size. With increasing horizontal interstimulus distance, stimulus value changes periodically. Four or five inhibitory maxima alternating with ineffective ranges could be recorded. Power and spread of the lateral inhibition depend on stimulus intensity, interstimulus distance and spatial sensitivity distribution in the eye.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Frankfurt/M., Germany

    H. W. Meyer

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  1. H. W. Meyer
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologisches Institut der Universität Zürich, CH-8006, Zürich, Künstlergasse 16, Switzerland

    Rüdiger Wehner

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Meyer, H.W. (1972). Ethometrical Investigations into the Spatial Interaction within the Visual System of Velia caprai (Hemiptera, Heteroptera). In: Wehner, R. (eds) Information Processing in the Visual Systems of Anthropods. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-65477-0_33

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-65477-0_33

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-06020-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-65477-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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