title: Motion detection in goldfish investigated with the optomotor response is "color blind".
abstract: The action spectrum of the optomotor response in goldfish was measured to investigate which of the four cone types involved in color vision contributes to motion detection. In the dark-adapted state, the action spectrum showed a single maximum in the range of 500-520 nm, and resembled the rod spectral sensitivity function. Surprisingly, the action spectrum measured in the light-adapted state also revealed a single maximum only, located in the long wavelength range between 620 and 660 nm. A comparison with spectral sensitivity functions of the four cone types suggests that motion detection is dominated by the L-cone type. Using a two colored, "red-green" cylinder illuminated with two monochromatic lights separately adjustable in intensity, it could be shown that motion vision is "color-blind": the optomotor response disappeared whenever "isoluminant" red and green stripes were offered. Under this condition, calculations revealed that the L-cones were only slightly modulated by the "red-green" stimulus.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Zoologie III, J. Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schaerer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neumeyer
mesh_terms: D000221:Adaptation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D003623:Dark Adaptation / Q000502:physiology; D006054:Goldfish / Q000502:physiology*; D009039:Motion Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*