title: Visual projection neurons in theDrosophilalobula link feature detection to distinct behavioral programs.
abstract: Visual projection neurons (VPNs) provide an anatomical connection between early visual processing and higher brain regions. Here we characterize lobula columnar (LC) cells, a class ofDrosophilaVPNs that project to distinct central brain structures called optic glomeruli. We anatomically describe 22 different LC types and show that, for several types, optogenetic activation in freely moving flies evokes specific behaviors. The activation phenotypes of two LC types closely resemble natural avoidance behaviors triggered by a visual loom. In vivo two-photon calcium imaging reveals that these LC types respond to looming stimuli, while another type does not, but instead responds to the motion of a small object. Activation of LC neurons on only one side of the brain can result in attractive or aversive turning behaviors depending on the cell type. Our results indicate that LC neurons convey information on the presence and location of visual features relevant for specific behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2193-8271
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States.
authors.forename: Aljoscha
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3822-489X
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nern
authors.affiliation: Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States.
authors.forename: W Ryan
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.affiliation: Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States.
authors.forename: Mai M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.affiliation: Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4108-4517
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Reiser
authors.affiliation: Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States.
authors.forename: Gwyneth M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Card
authors.affiliation: Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States.
authors.forename: Gerald M
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8762-8703
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rubin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004330:Drosophila / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D061848:Optical Imaging; D062308:Optogenetics; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D056969:Voltage-Sensitive Dye Imaging
keywords: D. melanogaster; feature detection; lobula; loom detection and avoidance behaviors; neuroscience; optic glomeruli; retinotopy; visual behavior