Visual motion detection is among the best understood neuronal computations. One assumed behavioural role is to detect self-motion and to counteract involuntary course deviations, extensively investigated in tethered walking or flying flies. In free flight, however, any deviation from a straight course is signalled by both the visual system as well as by proprioceptive mechanoreceptors called 'halteres', which are the equivalent of the vestibular system in vertebrates. Therefore, it is yet unclear to what extent motion vision contributes to course control, or whether straight flight is completely controlled by proprioceptive feedback from the halteres. To answer these questions, we genetically rendered flies motion-blind by blocking their primary motion-sensitive neurons and quantified their free-flight performance. We found that such flies have difficulties maintaining a straight flight trajectory, much like control flies in the dark. By unilateral wing clipping, we generated an asymmetry in propulsory force and tested the ability of flies to compensate for this perturbation. While wild-type flies showed a remarkable level of compensation, motion-blind animals exhibited pronounced circling behaviour. Our results therefore unequivocally demonstrate that motion vision is necessary to fly straight under realistic conditions.

中文翻译：

---

动盲苍蝇会损害空中航线的稳定性

视觉运动检测是人们最了解的神经元计算之一。一种假定的行为角色是检测自我运动并抵消非自愿路线偏离，这在系留的步行或飞行苍蝇中得到了广泛研究。然而，在自由飞行中，视觉系统以及称为“三角裤”的本体感受性机械感受器都暗示着偏离平直路线的任何偏离，这等同于脊椎动物的前庭系统。因此，尚不清楚运动视觉在多大程度上有助于航向控制，或者直行飞行是否完全由的本体感受反馈控制。为了回答这些问题，我们通过阻止果蝇的主要运动敏感神经元来遗传化果蝇的动盲并量化其自由飞行性能。我们发现，这种苍蝇很难保持直线飞行轨迹，就像在黑暗中控制苍蝇一样。通过单侧机翼剪裁，我们产生了推进力的不对称性，并测试了苍蝇补偿这种扰动的能力。野生型果蝇表现出显着的补偿水平，而动盲动物则表现出明显的盘旋行为。因此，我们的结果明确表明，运动视觉对于在现实条件下直线飞行是必要的。动盲动物表现出明显的盘旋行为。因此，我们的结果明确表明，运动视觉对于在现实条件下直线飞行是必要的。动盲动物表现出明显的盘旋行为。因此，我们的结果明确表明，运动视觉对于在现实条件下直线飞行是必要的。