Visual guidance fine- tunes probing movements of an insect appendage

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Kannegieser, Soeren; Kraft, Nadine; Haan, Alexa; Stoeckl, Anna
• 署名单位: University of Wurzburg; University of Konstanz; University of Konstanz
• 刊物名称: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0027-10504
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2306937121
• 发表日期: 2024-02-06
• 关键词: sensory control; praying-mantis; prey capture; vision; hand; lepidoptera; COORDINATION; proboscis; feedback; strike

摘要

Visually guided reaching, a regular feature of human life, comprises an intricate neural control task. It includes identifying the target's position in 3D space, passing the representation to the motor system that controls the respective appendages, and adjusting ongoing movements using visual and proprioceptive feedback. Given the complexity of the neural control task, invertebrates, with their numerically constrained central nervous systems, are often considered incapable of this level of visuomotor guidance. Here, we provide mechanistic insights into visual appendage guidance in insects by studying the probing movements of the hummingbird hawkmoth's proboscis as they search for a flower's nectary. We show that visually guided proboscis movements fine - tune the coarse control provided by body movements in flight. By impairing the animals' view of their proboscis, we demonstrate that continuous visual feedback is required and actively sought out to guide this appendage. In doing so, we establish an insect model for the study of neural strategies underlying eye- appendage control in a simple nervous system. Significance Visually guided reaching of a hand or other appendage comprises an intricate neural control task. Invertebrates, with their numerically constrained central nervous systems, are often considered incapable of this level of visuomotor control. Here, we provide mechanistic insights into visual appendage guidance in insects by studying the probing movements of the hummingbird hawkmoth's proboscis as they search for a flower's nectary. We show that visually guided proboscis movements fine - tune the coarse control provided by flight. By impairing the animals' view of their proboscis, we demonstrate that continuous visual feedback is required and actively sought out. These results establish an insect model for the study of neural strategies underlying eye- appendage control in a simple nervous system.