Neural Correlates of a Magnetic Sense
@article{Wu2012NeuralCO, title={Neural Correlates of a Magnetic Sense}, author={Le-Qing Wu and J. David Dickman}, journal={Science}, year={2012}, volume={336}, pages={1054 - 1057} }
Magnetic Sense Many species orient and navigate using aspects of Earth's magnetic field. Magnetic receptors have been found in the eyes, ears, and bills of birds, but there has been no clear evidence of the neural mechanism by which magnetic signals are translated into direction. Recording from the brainstem within conscious pigeons, Wu and Dickman (p. 1054, published online 26 April; see the Perspective by Winklhofer) reveal the presence of neurons in the pigeon's brain that encode the…
150 Citations
The Magnetic Senses
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It is shown that magneto-sensitive units do not exist in the avian tectum, and the neurophysiological basis of magnetoreception has been much less studied.
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It is speculated that extensive time-averaging and/or other higher-order neural processing of magnetic information is required, rendering the magnetic sense inefficient relative to alternative cues that can be detected faster and with less effort.
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- BiologyScience
- 2012
How information on Earth's magnetic field is encoded in the pigeon brain is reported and a candidate magnetic sensory organ in the inner ear of the pigeon is suggested.
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