Information processing in the outer retina of fish

The retina translates light into neuronal activity. Thus, it renders visual information of the external environment. The retina can only send a limited amount of information to the brain within a given period. To use this amount optimally, light stimuli are strongly processed in the retina. This processing entails extraction of useful information from a visual scene, while ignoring redundancies. Here for, the retina consists of a several cell types organized in different layers, each with distinct contributions in processing visual information. The main topic of this thesis is concerned with the question how the first layers of neurons, the outer retina, are involved in the processing of visual information.
The spectral sensitivity of three cone types of the zebrafish are described in chapter 2.
In chapters 3 and 4, we examine responses of cones and horizontal cells (HCs) to natural stimuli. We analyze the results from information theoretical perspective.
The fifth chapter illustrates how cone chloride currents are involved in modulating the size of feedback from HCs to cones.