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SUMMARY:The Hungry Eye: energy\, information and retinal function - Simon 
 Laughlin\, Department of Zoology\, University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20061024T120000Z
DTEND:20061024T130000Z
UID:TALK5629@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Cordula Becker
DESCRIPTION:The batteries in our digital cameras and notebook computers co
 nstantly remind us that energy must be used to capture and process images.
  A retina is no exception. Work initiated in insect compound eyes reveals 
 how eyes are designed to satisfy their hunger for information while keepin
 g at bay their hunger for metabolic energy. These designs involve a number
  of operations that are commonplace in retinal physiology\; adaptation to 
 light level\, intensity dependent receptive fields and response dynamics\,
  signal amplification\, gradations in spatial sampling across the retina\,
  analogue signal processing and the division of information into parallel 
 streams. This work was initiated by a collaboration that had its roots in 
 the work of W.S. Stiles. Its findings demonstrates how the use of non-mamm
 alian species can illuminate the function of our own eye by identifying de
 sign features that are so useful that no good eye can afford to work witho
 ut them.
LOCATION:Seminar Room (ground floor)\, Craik-Marshall Building
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