A behavioral perspective on the biophysics of the light-dependent magnetic compass: a link between directional and spatial perception?

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dc.contributorVirginia Techen
dc.contributor.authorPhillips, John B.en
dc.contributor.authorMuheim, Rachelen
dc.contributor.authorJorge, Paulo E.en
dc.contributor.departmentBiological Sciencesen
dc.date.accessed2014-02-04en
dc.date.accessioned2014-02-07T18:29:40Zen
dc.date.available2014-02-07T18:29:40Zen
dc.date.issued2010-10en
dc.description.abstractIn terrestrial organisms, sensitivity to the Earth's magnetic field is mediated by at least two different magnetoreception mechanisms, one involving biogenic ferromagnetic crystals (magnetite/maghemite) and the second involving a photo-induced biochemical reaction that forms long-lasting, spin-coordinated, radical pair intermediates. In some vertebrate groups (amphibians and birds), both mechanisms are present; a light-dependent mechanism provides a directional sense or 'compass', and a non-light-dependent mechanism underlies a geographical-position sense or 'map'. Evidence that both magnetite-and radical pair-based mechanisms are present in the same organisms raises a number of interesting questions. Why has natural selection produced magnetic sensors utilizing two distinct biophysical mechanisms? And, in particular, why has natural selection produced a compass mechanism based on a light-dependent radical pair mechanism (RPM) when a magnetite-based receptor is well suited to perform this function? Answers to these questions depend, to a large degree, on how the properties of the RPM, viewed from a neuroethological rather than a biophysical perspective, differ from those of a magnetite-based magnetic compass. The RPM is expected to produce a light-dependent, 3-D pattern of response that is axially symmetrical and, in some groups of animals, may be perceived as a pattern of light intensity and/or color superimposed on the visual surroundings. We suggest that the light-dependent magnetic compass may serve not only as a source of directional information but also provide a spherical coordinate system that helps to interface metrics of distance, direction and spatial position.en
dc.description.sponsorshipNational Science Foundation IOB 06-47188, IOB 07-48175en
dc.identifier.citationPhillips, John B.; Muheim, Rachel; Jorge, Paulo E., "A behavioral perspective on the biophysics of the light-dependent magnetic compass: a link between directional and spatial perception?," J Exp Biol 213, 3247-3255 (2010); doi: 10.1242/_jeb.020792en
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.020792en
dc.identifier.issn0022-0949en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/25346en
dc.identifier.urlhttp://jeb.biologists.org/content/213/19/3247.full.pdf+htmlen
dc.language.isoen_USen
dc.publisherCompany of Biologists Ltd.en
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectmagnetic compassen
dc.subjectradical pair mechanismen
dc.subjectspatial cognitionen
dc.subjectsubicularen
dc.subjectplace cellsen
dc.subjectHIPPOCAMPAL PLACE CELLSen
dc.subjectRADICAL-PAIR MECHANISMen
dc.subjectPHOTORECEPTOR-BASEDen
dc.subjectMAGNETORECEPTIONen
dc.subjectNEWT NOTOPHTHALMUS-VIRIDESCENSen
dc.subjectBLUE-LIGHTen
dc.subjectPATH-INTEGRATIONen
dc.subjectCHEMICAL MAGNETORECEPTIONen
dc.subjectINCLINATION COMPASSen
dc.subjectVESTIBULAR INPUTen
dc.subjectMIGRATORY BIRDSen
dc.titleA behavioral perspective on the biophysics of the light-dependent magnetic compass: a link between directional and spatial perception?en
dc.title.serialJournal of Experimental Biologyen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden

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