PROCESSING OF SYNAPTIC INFORMATION DEPENDS ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE DENDRITIC TREE

THE consequences of dendritic geometry for the processing of synaptic information was analysed in two types of motion-sensitive neurones in the visual system of the fly. These neurones differ conspicuously in t he morphology of their dendrites but receive their input from the same type of local motion-sensitive elements. Intracellular recording and activating selected regions of the dendrite by visual motion showed th at, in accordance with cable theory of nerve cells, the way in which p ostsynaptic signals interact is essentially determined by the structur e of the dendritic tree.