The retinal circuitry for magnetoreception in migratory birds (Neu01)

• Subject Area: Experimental and Theoretical Network Neuroscience ; Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: since 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 395940726

To achieve a comprehensive understanding of magnetoreception and vertebrate navigation, it is important to study which neuronal cell types and pathways in the retina are involved in the processing of magnetic signals. The processing of magnetic compass information in migratory birds is initiated in the retina, presumably in cryptochrome 4-expressing double cone photoreceptors. Magnetic information is likely sent from retinal ganglion to higher brain areas cells via the thalamofugal pathway. However, the retinal circuitry that processes magnetic information is not known so far. To investigate this, we will combine electrophysiological recordings with a detailed morphological analysis of the processing pathways in the bird retina.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1372: Magnetoreception and navigation in vertebrates: from biophysics to brain and behaviour
• Applicant Institution: Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Karin Dedek