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Dynamics of chromatophore response to visual stimulation

Stavros P. Hadjisolomou1* and Frank W. Grasso1
  • 1 Brooklyn College of the City Univesity Of New York, Psychology Department, United States

Coleoid cephalopods (octopus, squid, and cuttlefish) are able to change their external appearance
in milliseconds for visual crypsis and communication. Color changing is the result of the
combined action of intradermal chromatophores, iridophores, and leucophores. This behavior is
driven by a sensorimotor system consisting of visual input from the eyes and large, sophisticated
central nervous system for information processing and a muscular skin for display. Coleoids
have well-developed eyes and acute vision, which provide the central nervous system (CNS)
with input on spatial patterning, contrast, and luminance of the environment. Networks of the
optic lobes, basal lobe, and chromatophore lobes “select” and modulate the most efficient body
pattern for camouflage. While the anatomical arrangement of the neuro-muscular components
and the sensory contributions of the visual system have been documented, the underlying
computation of this sensorimotor control system is still unknown. We captured the spatial and
temporal variations of chromatophore activity on a patch of cuttlefish skin in response to a
transient input (brief, intense white light flash). This stimulus was adequate to trigger
chromatophore responses. We observed consistent, variable spatial gradients of contrast across
the mantle which were not present in pre-flash chromatophore activity. Some responses included
a brief expansion of chromatophores with a short latency (130 milliseconds) after the flash,
followed by immediate retraction lasting up to 4 seconds. The long duration of these responses
may reflect the contributions of several central processes. This is consistent with a system that
adapts to ambient light level and the interactions of the central state of the cuttlefish (e.g., fight
or flight) with the chromatophore system. System identification techniques will allow us to
explore the (first order) dynamics of brain function that control the chromatophore system
response to light input.

References

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Hadjisolomou, S. P., & Grasso, F. W. (in preparation). Dynamics of Chromatophore Response to Visual Stimulation. Journal of Invertebrate Neuroscience.
Hanlon, R. T. (2007). Cephalopod dynamic camouflage. Current Biology, 17(11), 400-405.
Hanlon, R. T., & Messenger, J. B. (1988). Adaptive coloration in young cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis L.): the morphology and development of body patterns and their relation to behaviour. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, 437-487.
Kelman, E. J., Osorio, D., & Baddeley, R. J. (2008). A review of cuttlefish camouflage and object recognition and evidence for depth perception. Journal of experimental biology, 211(11), 1757.
Mäthger, L. M., Denton, E. J., Marshall, N. J., & Hanlon, R. T. (2009). Mechanisms and behavioural functions of structural coloration in cephalopods. Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 6(Suppl 2), S149-S163.
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Stevens, M., & Merilaita, S. (2011). Animal camouflage: mechanisms and function: Cambridge Univ Pr.

Keywords: Camouflage, cephalopod, chromatophore, Communication, cuttlefish, impulse response, mollusk, Sepia

Conference: Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology, College Park. Maryland USA, United States, 5 Aug - 10 Aug, 2012.

Presentation Type: Poster (but consider for student poster award)

Topic: Sensorimotor Integration

Citation: Hadjisolomou SP and Grasso FW (2012). Dynamics of chromatophore response to visual stimulation. Conference Abstract: Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnbeh.2012.27.00159

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Received: 27 Apr 2012; Published Online: 07 Jul 2012.

* Correspondence: Mr. Stavros P Hadjisolomou, Brooklyn College of the City Univesity Of New York, Psychology Department, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, United States, shadjisolomou@gmail.com