LABORATORY 8
Laboratory of Sensory Information Processing

Executive Head of Laboratory – Dr. (Biology) Vladimir Bastakov

Tel.: (095) 430-71-90, Fax: (095) 430-75-44; E-mail: bastakov@iitp.ru

The leading researchers of the laboratory include:

Dr.Sc. (Techn.)	D. S. Lebedev	Dr.	O. Orlov
Dr.Sc. (Techn.)	D. G. Lebedev	Dr.	T. Podugolnikova
Dr.Sc. (Biol.)	I. Pigarev	Dr.	E. Rodionova
Dr.Sc. (Biol.)	G. Rozhkova	Dr.	M. Smirnov
Dr.	K. Golubtsov	Dr.	V. Vedenina
Dr.	D. Lapshin	Dr.	I. Utina
Dr.	E. Maksimova		P. Maximov
Dr.	V. Maximov		A. Panjutin

directions of activity

The main topic of researches in the laboratory is to study information processing in the nervous system of man and animals as to :

creation of adequate models which show how the studied principles of information processing in the nervous system are realized in the formation of complex behaviour;

creation of mathematical models of functioning of single units of sensory information systems (peripheral, central and sensor-motor levels of information processing);

comparing solutions of similar problems in live and technical information systems in order to improve the later;

designing and implementing diagnostic methods and devices for ophthalmology.

To cope with the problems mentioned researchers of the laboratory use neurophysiological, psychophysical and morphological methods, and also make behaviour studies and simulate sensory information processing. Neurophysiological and morphological studies as well as mathematical simulation of sensory processes are directed to investigation of mechanisms of the retinal information processing at the level of horizontal and ganglion cells (peripheral level of sensory information processing). The central level of sensory processing involves the study of neurons in various parts of the brain (cortex and caudate nucleus in cats and monkeys, diencephalon and mesencephalon in fish and in frogs). Sensor-motor level of information processing is studied in psychophysical experiments in human beings and also in behavioural experiments with animals (constancy of visual perception, binocular vision mechanisms, spatial orientation, echolocation in moths, bioacoustics in locusts during the breeding period). Diagnostic methods and devices for ophthalmology are being designed and implemented.

MAIN RESULTS

Simulation of Retinal Processes. Byzov’s conception of the ephaptic feedback in ordinary chemical synapses, originally suggested for invaginating synapses between neurones with sustained activity, was adapted for spiking neurons. A stochastic model of a spine synapse was built, in which the probability of release of a portion of transmitter is determined by the potential at the presynaptic membrane, which in its turn is determined by the current running in the synaptic cleft, generated in postsynaptic neuron. The model demonstrates some phenomena observed in physiological experiments with cortical synapses and gave a number of predictions that could not be easily envisioned and can be tested in future physiological experiments. The model is designed as a Windows application and contains setting windows to define some dozen of pre- and postsynaptic parameters and output windows to display results of the stochastic experiments with the specified model.

The model is designed as a Windows application and contains setting windows to define some dozen of pre- and postsynaptic parameters and output windows to display results of the stochastic experiments with the specified model. A description of the model of invaginating spine synapse and the last version of the application were placed at the Institute Website and can be downloaded from the page: http://www.iitp.ru/projects/eq/. (V. V. Maximov).

Vision acuity and binocular vision in man. The study of age-related dynamics of noncorrected acuity of close and distant vision of schoolchildren showed, that in all age groups the vision acuity exceeds the medical standard of 1.0. The maximum value of the vision acuity is registered for the distance of 1-2 m. Before 11-12 years old average parameters of the vision acuity increase, but then the parameters of distant vision start reducing. The data obtained call for the necessity to reorganize the system of dispensary checkup and prophylactic measures to preserve vision of children. To obtain a complex estimation of age-related development of binocular function a research was carried out in the field of interaction between binocular and stereokinetic mechanisms of depth perception in children 6-9 years old in absence or in presence of binocular devices using the methods of L. N. Mogilev. Parameters of children with normal binocular vision are close to that of grown-ups, but children with binocular disfunction reveal specific deflections. The obtained results show the availability of using this method to estimate the state of binocular function and for differential diagnostics of binocular vision disfunctions (G. I. Rozhkova, T. A. Podugol'nikova, E. I. Rodionova).

Neuronal mechanisms of visual memory and attention in monkeys. Investigation of the role of the primary visual cortex in the processes of visual attention, learning and memory of monkeys showed that the execution of a complex behavioural task – a delayed comparison with an etalon, that involves attention and memory, is completely dependent on the position of visual stimuli on the retina. Hence, the process of learning took place in parts of the brain, that have retinotopic projections with high spatial accuracy, more likely, in the in the primary visual cortex. In fact, registration of neural activity in the primary visual cortex revealed a large number of neurons, the responses of which were not influenced by physical parameters of visual stimuli, but could be modified by the context of the task performing, that confirms the assumption that neurons of primary visual cortex take part in the processes of visual memory and attention (I. N. Pigarev).

Spatial orientation of frogs and toads. For the first time behavioural experiments showed that memorization of native pond odour (one of the most important cues in spatial orientation) in amphibians occurs on early stages of larval development. To memorize the native pond odour – an important orientational cue for adult individuals – amphibian larvae need just a few days (4-7), and this period of memorization correlates with the period of intensive morphogenesis in olfactory system of these animals (S. V. Ogurtsov, V. A. Bastakov).

Echolocation and Bioacoustics of Insects. The ability to perceive the echo of their own acoustic clicks was studied in noctuids. Statistically significant response (the increase in the frequency of echolocatory impulses generation) was obtained in members of 16 noctuid species, belonging to 5 subfamilies, i.e. the ability to perceive the echo is widely spread in a number of families of moths. These experiments also showed that during activation of acoustic emission the amplitude of clicks also increased. Thus, the amplitude correlation between direct and reflected signals may serve a significant parameter of echolocatory information processing in the CNS of an insect (D. N. Lapshin).

The analysis of acoustic signals of two closely related species of grasshoppers recorded in the territory of Ukraine confirms the existence of a broad hybrid zone between these species. Meanwhile, the behavioural experiments showed that females of these species selectively responded to acoustic signals of males of their own species. The females commonly responded after one particular element of the male courtship song that could indicate that this element is the most important for the female recognition (V. Yu. Vedenina).

Ophthalmology. Together with a number Eye hospitals and kindergarten in the town of Dubna, a research was held in the field of pathology in visual system of children and grown-ups using a psychophysical method of studding Flicker Fusion method. New data on specific changes of Flicker Fusion in patients with various diseases of visual system are obtained, that allows to use the method for diagnostics (including an early one) of glaucoma, pathology of a visual nerve, and retinal dystrophy (K. V. Golubtsov, O. Yu. Orlov).

An apparatus for a 3D recording of macromovements of the eyes, with a high degree of resolution and with a data input into the computer by means of a TV-camera, is designed. A special mirror sighting device is constructed, that increases the tuning accuracy of the system “subject – apparatus”. Preliminary tests are conducted using the recordings of macromovements of the eyes in the regime of following the horizontally moving object (D. G. Lebedev).

Grants from:

Russian Basic Research Foundation (№ 98-04-49288): "Investigation of cellular interaction in distal vertebrate retina, providing the background for processing of spatial and colour information" (V. V. Maximov).

Russian Basic Research Foundation (№ 99-04-48831): "Striasomes and neostriatum modules – independent elements or the parts of integral system?" (E. I. Rodionova).

Russian Basic Research Foundation (No. 00-04-48657): "Меchanisms of moving objects size constancy perception in frogs and toads" (V. A. Bastakov)

Russian Basic Research Foundation (No. 00-04-58961): travel-grant V. A. Bastakov 30th Annual Meeting of Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, USA, November 4-9, 2000.

Russian Basic Research Foundation (No. 00-04-58930): travel-grant P. V. Maximov 2nd Convention of Georgian Physiologists, Tbilisi, Georgia, October 2-8, 2000.

Russian Basic Research Foundation (00-04-58754): travel-grant S. V. Ogurtsov Conference Chemical Signals in Vertebrates IX, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, July 26-30, 2000.

INTAS (YSF 99-185): "Function of complex courthip behaviour in grasshoppers of Chorthippus albomarginatus-group (Orthoptera: Gomphocerinae)” (V. Yu. Vedeni-na).

PUBLICATIONS IN 2000

Maximov V.V. Environmental factors which may have led to the appearance of colour vision. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 2000, B 355. (in press)

Kasyanov A.M., Maximov V.V., Byzov A.L., Berretta N., Sokolov M.V., Gasparini S., Cherubini E., Reymann K., Voronin L.L. Intrasynaptic ephapticfeedback alters amplitude-voltage relations of mossy fibre responses in rat CA3 hippocampal neurones // Neuroscience, 2000 (in press).

Максимова Е.М., Бастаков В.А. Физиология зрительного анализатора. – В кн.: "Руководство к практическим занятиям по курсу физиологии животных и человека". М.: МГУ, 2000 (в печати).

Maximova E.M., Maximov V.V., Maximov P.V. Excitation and inhibition in the receptive field of detectors of moving contrast in the frog retina. – In: "Proceedings of the 2nd Convention of Georgian Physiologists", Tbilisi, Georgia, 2000, p. 113-115.

Maximov P.V. A model of orientation-contingent color after-effect based on the visual associative memory. – In: "Proceedings of the 2nd Convention of Georgian Physiologists", Tbilisi, Georgia, 2000, p. 15-117.

Maximov P.V. Illumination flickr in natural environments. – In: "Proceedings of the 2nd Convention of Georgian Physiologists", Tbilisi, Georgia, 2000, p. 117-119.

Maximov V.V. 500 million years of colour vision and colour opponency. In: "Proceedings of the 2nd Convention of Georgian Physiologists", Tbilisi, Georgia, 2000, pp. 119-121.

Maximov V.V., Voronin L.L. Stochastic model of the ephaptic feedback in invaginationg spine synapses. – In: "Proceedings of the 2nd Convention of Georgian Physiologists", Tbilisi, Georgia, 2000, pp. 121-123.

Glasko M.P., Guberman Sh.A., Maximov V.V., Pikovskii Yu.I., Rantsman E.Ya. Recent block structure of the Earth's crust and location of great oil-gasfields in the Andes. – In: CD-ROM "The 31st International Geological Congress – Abstracts", Rio-de-Janeiro, Brasil, 2000.

Максимова Е.М. Множественность медиаторов в сетчатке позвоночных. – В кн.: "Физиология нейротрансмиттеров. Тезисы докладов", Москва, 2000, с. 55.

Подугольникова Т.А., Рожкова Г.И. Зрительная работоспособность дошкольников и первоклассников с нормальным и нарушенным бинокулярным зрением // Дефектология. 2000. № 2. С. 56-61.

Рожкова Г.И., Васильева Н.Н. Взаимодействие бинокулярного и стереокинетического механизмов восприятия глубины у детей с нормальным и нарушенным бинокулярным зрением // Сенсорные системы. 2001. № 1 (в печати).

Рожкова Г.И., Токарева В.С., Ващенко Д.И., Васильева Н.Н. Возрастная динамика остроты зрения у школьников. I. Бинокулярная острота зрения для дали // Сенсорные системы. 2001. № 1 (в печати).

Рожкова Г.И., Токарева В.С., Ващенко Д.И., Васильева Н.Н., Громова И.Э., Сенькина Е.В. Возрастная динамика остроты зрения у школьников. II. Бинокулярная острота зрения для разных расстояний // Сенсорные системы. 2001. № 2 (в печати).

Рожкова Г.И., Родионова Е.И., Токарева В.С., Ващенко Д.И., Васильева Н.Н. Возрастная динамика остроты зрения у школьников. III. Соотношение бинокулярных и монокулярных показателей // Сенсорные системы. 2001. № 2 (в печати).

Pigarev I. N., Ќ. Almirall, T. R. Vidyasagar "Responses of neurons in visual area V4 to abdomenal magnetic stimulation during sleep". – In: Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience society. 2000, 11.

Vidyasagar T. R., I. N. Pigarev, J. Y. Cappello, D. K. Chelvanayagam "Mnemonic components modulate responses of macaque striate neurones in delayed match to sample memory task". – In: Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience society. 2000, 11.

Pigarev I. N., H. Almirall, M. Pigareva, V. Bautista, A. S. Bahillo and M. T. Herrero. Viscero-cortical interaction during sleep in MPTP treated monkeys // J. Sleep Res. 2000, 9, S1.

Pigarev I. N, H. Almirall, T. R. Vidyasagar. During sleep abdomenal magnetic stimulation evoked responses of neurons in the monkey's cortical visual area V4 // J. Sleep Res. 2000, 9, S1.

Almirall H., I. N. Pigarev, J. Gonzales, M. T. Herrero. Severity of motor impairment and correlation dimention of body temperature in a chronic experimental model of Parkinson disease in the monkey // J. Sleep Res. 2000, 9, S1.

Bastakov V.A. Analysis of visual illusions as an approach to study moving objects constancy perception in frogs and toads // Abstracts of Society for Neuroscience 30th Annual Meeting. New Orleans. November 4-9, 2000. V. 1, P. 487.

Ogurtsov S.V., Bastakov V.A. Imprinting on native pond odour in the pool frog, Rana lesonae Cam. // Chemical Signals in Vertebrates IX. Program & Abstracts, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, July 26-30, 2000, p. 77.

Подугольникова Т. А., Кондрашов С.Л., Пущин И.И. Типы крупных ганглиозных клеток сетчаток бурого терпуга (Hexagrammos octogrammus) и керчака Стеллера (Myoxocephalus stelleri) // Сенсорные системы. 2001. Т. 14. № 1 (в печати).

Лапшин Д.Н., Федорова М.В. Функции B-клетки тимпанальных органов ночных бабочек (Lepidoptera,Noctuoidea) // Сенсорные системы. 2000. Т. 14. № 2. С. 148-155.

Лапшин Д.Н., Воронцов Д.Д. Реакции ночных бабочек-совок (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) на ретранслированные эхо-сигналы // Сенсорные системы. 2000. Т. 14. № 2. С. 156-166.

Лапшин Д.Н., Воронцов Д.Д. Ультразвуковая эмиссия совок (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): основные параметры и возможные механизмы их генерации // Зоол. журн. 2000. Т. 79. № 10. С. 1-13.

Лапшин Д.Н., Воронцов Д.Д. Частотная настройка слуховой системы совок (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) // Сенсорные системы. 2000. Т. 14. № 4. С. 312-321.

Vedenina V.Yu., v. Helversen O. The function of courtship in grasshoppers related to Chorthippus albomarginatus (Orthoptera: Gomphocerinae) // Proceedings of XXI International Congress of Entomology, Brazil, August 2000, p. 436.

Vedenina V.Yu., Skiebe P., Pflüger H.-J. Allatostatin-like immunoreactive neurons in abdominal ganglia and oviduct of locust Schistocerca gregaria and cricket Acheta domesticus // Proceedings of the 6th European Conference of the International Society for Invertebrate Neurobiology "Simpler nervous systems", Pushchino, Russia, 2000.

Vedenina V.Yu., Bukhvalova M.A. Contributions to the study of acoustic signals of grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Gomphocerinae) of Russia and adjacent countries. 2. Calling songs of widespread species recorded in different localities // Russian Entomological Journal (in press).

Николаев П.П., Николаев Д.П. Концепция бинокулярной систолической модели динамических феноменов зрительной репрезентации и пространственной константности // Математика, компьютер, образование. VII Международная конференция. Тезисы докладов. М.: Прогресс, "Традиция", 2000. С. 247-251.

Андреев Л. (Данилов Л.), Орлов А. От редакции 2-го русского издания Крэнстон С. Е.П. Блаватская: Жизнь и творчество основательницы теософского движения. Рига-Москва: Лигатма, 1999. С. 632-634.

Андреев Л. (Данилов Л.), Орлов А. Дополнительная литература, использованная в русском издании. Там же. С. 708-710.

Андреев Л. (Данилов Л.), Орлов А. Редакционные дополнения и примечания Там же.

Шигина Н.А., Куман И. Г., Хейло Т.С., Голубцов К.В. Мелькающий хроматический свет как регулятор биологических процессов в зрительной системе // Вестник ТРТУ. Таганрог, 2000 (в печати).

Шигина Н.А., Куман И. Г., Хейло Т.С., Голубцов К.В. Некоторые особенности диагностики и лечения заболеваний сетчатки и зрительного нерва методом цветной импульсной фотостимуляци // 2 Съезд офтальмологов. Москва, 2000.

Егорова Т.С., Голубцов К.В., Рогатина Е.В., Яковлев А.А. Применение прибора КЧСМ-У для оценки состояния зрения слабовидящих школьников. – В кн.: Офтальмология Якутии на рубеже веков. Якутск, 2000. С. 48-49.

Цапенко И.В., Голубцов К.В., Зуева М.В. О физиологических аспектах зрительного утомления у операторов ЭВМ // Радиотехника, электроника и связь на рубеже тысячелетия. Труды XL научной сессии, посвященной Дню радио. М.: НТОРЭС им. Попова, 2000, с. 52-53.

Зуева М.В., Цапенко И.В., Голубцов К.В., Орлов О.Ю., Захарова Г.Ю. Топическая диагностика дефектов поля зрения // Материалы Международной конференции "Интеллектуальные САПР". Таганрог: Известия ТРТУ, 2000, с. 261-264.

Голубцов К.В., Орлов О.Ю., Айду Э.Й. Компьютерная система для диагностики зрения // Журнал Министерства экономики. 2000 (в печати).

Рогатина Е.В., Голубцов К.В., Егорова Т.С. Роль исследования КЧСМ у детей // Сборник, посвященный 100-летию МНИИ им. Гельмгольца. Москва, 2000.