The brain, rather than our eyes, may be more important for sight, researchers studying fruit flies have discovered.
The
brain
,
rather
than
our
eyes
,
may
be
more
important
for
sight
,
researchers
studying
fruit
flies
have
discovered
.
The discovery could change the way we think about vision.
The
discovery
could
change
the
way
we
think
about
vision
.
Researchers in the University of Virginia have found that the very simple eyes of fruit fly larva, with only 24 total photo receptors (the human eye contains more than 125 million), provide just enough light input to allow the animal's large brain to make that input into images.
Researchers
in
the
University
of
Virginia
have
found
that
the
very
simple
eyes
of
fruit
fly
larva
,
with
only
24
total
photo
receptors
(
the
human
eye
contains
more
than
125
million
)
,
provide
just
enough
light
input
to
allow
the
animal
's
large
brain
to
make
that
input
into
images
.
Their discovery shows that vision may be less important to "seeing" than previously thought-and in fact it is the brain's ability to process, points of light into complex images that is key.
Their
discovery
shows
that
vision
may
be
less
important
to
``
seeing
''
than
previously
thought-and
in
fact
it
is
the
brain
's
ability
to
process
,
points
of
light
into
complex
images
that
is
key
.
"It blows open how we think about vision."
``
It
blows
open
how
we
think
about
vision
.
''
said Barry Condron.
said
Barry
Condron
.
"This tells us that visual input may not be as important to sight as the brain working behind it."
``
This
tells
us
that
visual
input
may
not
be
as
important
to
sight
as
the
brain
working
behind
it
.
''
Condron's graduate students, Elizabeth Daubert, Nick Macedonia and Catherine Hamilton, conducted a series of experiments to test the vision of fruit fly larvae.
Condron
's
graduate
students
,
Elizabeth
Daubert
,
Nick
Macedonia
and
Catherine
Hamilton
,
conducted
a
series
of
experiments
to
test
the
vision
of
fruit
fly
larvae
.
They found that when a larva was tied to the bottom of a dish, other larvae were attracted to it as it attempted to free itself.
They
found
that
when
a
larva
was
tied
to
the
bottom
of
a
dish
,
other
larvae
were
attracted
to
it
as
it
attempted
to
free
itself
.
After several further experiments to understand how they sensed the motion, the researchers learned that the nearly blind animals likely were seeing the action.
After
several
further
experiments
to
understand
how
they
sensed
the
motion
,
the
researchers
learned
that
the
nearly
blind
animals
likely
were
seeing
the
action
.
"The answer must be in the brain of these animals."
``
The
answer
must
be
in
the
brain
of
these
animals
.
''
Condron said.
Condron
said
.
"They are able to take just a couple dozen points of light and then process that into recognizable images; something like when an astronomer with a small telescope is able to use techniques to improve a limited image into useful information about a star."
``
They
are
able
to
take
just
a
couple
dozen
points
of
light
and
then
process
that
into
recognizable
images
;
something
like
when
an
astronomer
with
a
small
telescope
is
able
to
use
techniques
to
improve
a
limited
image
into
useful
information
about
a
star
.
''
Condron believes the animals are able to assemble useful images by rapidly scanning their heads and, in doing so, gather up enough light points to allow the brain to compose an image clear enough to "see".
Condron
believes
the
animals
are
able
to
assemble
useful
images
by
rapidly
scanning
their
heads
and
,
in
doing
so
,
gather
up
enough
light
points
to
allow
the
brain
to
compose
an
image
clear
enough
to
``
see
''
.
The researchers tested this by presenting larva with a video (therefore no sound and no smell) and found that the larvae still sensed and sought out the struggling larva on the video.
The
researchers
tested
this
by
presenting
larva
with
a
video
(
therefore
no
sound
and
no
smell
)
and
found
that
the
larvae
still
sensed
and
sought
out
the
struggling
larva
on
the
video
.
This provides us with a good model for trying to understand the role that the brain plays in helping organisms, including humans, to process images, such as recognizing faces.
This
provides
us
with
a
good
model
for
trying
to
understand
the
role
that
the
brain
plays
in
helping
organisms
,
including
humans
,
to
process
images
,
such
as
recognizing
faces
.
The brain, rather than our eyes, may be more important for sight, researchers studying fruit flies have discovered. The discovery could change the way we think about vision.  Researchers in the University of Virginia have found that the very simple eyes of fruit fly larva, with only 24 total photo receptors (the human eye contains more than 125 million), provide just enough light input to allow the animal's large brain to make that input into images. Their discovery shows that vision may be less important to "seeing" than previously thought-and in fact it is the brain's ability to process, points of light into complex images that is key.  "It blows open how we think about vision." said Barry Condron. "This tells us that visual input may not be as important to sight as the brain working behind it."  Condron's graduate students, Elizabeth Daubert, Nick Macedonia and Catherine Hamilton, conducted a series of experiments to test the vision of fruit fly larvae. They found that when a larva was tied to the bottom of a dish, other larvae were attracted to it as it attempted to free itself. After several further experiments to understand how they sensed the motion, the researchers learned that the nearly blind animals likely were seeing the action.  "The answer must be in the brain of these animals." Condron said. "They are able to take just a couple dozen points of light and then process that into recognizable images; something like when an astronomer with a small telescope is able to use techniques to improve a limited image into useful information about a star." Condron believes the animals are able to assemble useful images by rapidly scanning their heads and, in doing so, gather up enough light points to allow the brain to compose an image clear enough to "see".  The researchers tested this by presenting larva with a video (therefore no sound and no smell) and found that the larvae still sensed and sought out the struggling larva on the video. This provides us with a good model for trying to understand the role that the brain plays in helping organisms, including humans, to process images, such as recognizing faces.