Shedding light on vertebrate magnetoreception.
We review the challenges and recent progress in elucidating the physiological basis of animal magnetoreception. Behavioral and theoretical studies suggest a link between photoreception and magnetoreception in some animals. Neurophysiological studies have the potential to prove this link and identify the location of and the mechanism underlying the magnetoreception system.
Ritz
Thorsten
T
Department of Biology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg 24061, USA.
Dommer
David H
DH
Phillips
John B
JB
D025041:Animal Migration / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008280:Magnetics; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology