Facets of Vision

The papers published in this Volume are the fruits of a symposium held in Regensburg in April 1987. The meeting was held to com memorate two most significant events in the development of com pound eye research. In chronological order these are firstly, Sigmund Exner's seminal monograph on the physiology of compound eyes of crustaceans and insects, which was first published in Vienna in 1891, and is now shortly to appear for the first time in the English translation [Exner, S. (1989) The Physiology of the Compound Eyes of Insects and Crustaceans. Springer Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokyo]. Secondly, the meeting was also held in honour of Professor Hansjochem Autrum's 80th birthday. Professor Autrum, who is justly acknowledged as one of the pioneers of modern compound eye research, attended the meeting as the guest of honour. In keeping with these historical occasions, it has been our intention in this volume to present a comprehensive collection of short reviews covering the major aspects of compound eye research. Whilst the most up-to-date developments have been included in every field from optics, through photochemistry, phototransduction, integrative processes and behavior, an attempt has also been made to provide a historical perspective.

Klappentext

This book is a comprehensive review providing an overview of modern compound eye research. The historical development of the field is also sketched, referring in particular to the pioneering study of Sigmund Exner - whose 1891 monograph is at last available in English (please see below). Facets of Vision is also intended as a tribute to Professor H. Autrum, one of this century's major pioneers of the field. The present state of compound eye research is reviewed by acknowledged international experts, starting with optics and proceeding, through neural processing, to visually guided behaviour. Topics covered include: fundamental optical principles and diversity of optical design, photochemistry, phototransduction, eye pigments, neuroanatomy, circadian rhythms, early visual processing, neuropharmacology, colour vision, polarization vision, depth vision and motion detection. Comprising a coherent compilation of authoritative reviews, Facets of Vision will stand as a milestone in compound eye research.

Inhalt
1 Compound Eyes and the World of Vision Research.- 2 Autrum's Impact on Compound Eye Research in Insects.- 3 Optics and Evolution of the Compound Eye.- 4 Photoreceptor Optics, Theory and Practice.- 5 Variations in the Structure and Design of Compound Eyes.- 6 Visual Pigments of Compound Eyes Structure, Photochemistry, and Regeneration.- 7 Distribution of Insect Visual Chromophores: Functional and Phylogenetic Aspects.- 8 Pigments in Compound Eyes.- 9 Phototransduction in Limulus Ventral Photoreceptors: Roles of Calcium and Inositol Trisphosphate.- 10 The Retina-Lamina Pathway in Insects, Particularly Diptera, Viewed from an Evolutionary Perspective.- 11 Coding Efficiency and Design in Visual Processing.- 12 Neurotransmitters in Compound Eyes.- 13 Circadian Rhythms in the Invertebrate Retina.- 14 Color Vision in Honey Bees: Phenomena and Physiological Mechanisms.- 15 Polarization Sensitivity in Compound Eyes.- 16 Beneath the Compound Eye: Neuroanatomical Analysis and Physiological Correlates in the Study of Insect Vision.- 17 Directionally Selective Motion Detection by Insect Neurons.- 18 Neural Mechanisms of Visual Course Control in Insects.- 19 Size and Distance Perception in Compound Eyes.