Visual position stabilization in the hummingbird hawk moth, Macroglossum stellatarum L. II. Electrophysiological analysis of neurons sensitive to wide-field image motion.

Response properties of neurons in the cervical connectives of the hummingbird hawk moth, Macroglossum stellatarum L., were determined. All neurons described in this account respond directionally selectively to motion in large parts of the visual field of either eye. They respond maximally to bilateral stimulation, preferring either motion as induced on the eyes during translatory movements of the animal or when it turns around one of its body axes. Cells most sensitive to rotational motion either respond best to rotation of the patterns around the vertical axis of the animal or around its longitudinal body axis. Neurons most sensitive to translational pattern motion respond best to either simulated translations of the animal along its vertical or along an oblique axis. Most types of neurons respond tonically and do not habituate. The sensitivity to motion stimuli is not evenly distributed within the receptive field of any investigated neuron. Part of these neurons might play a role in visual position and course stabilization.