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In this issue of Neuron, Jordan and Keller (2020) explore subthreshold computations underlying predictive coding using whole-cell recordings in mouse visual cortex. Their findings suggest that layer 2/3, but not layer 5/6, neurons compute prediction errors by subtracting predicted and actual visual flow inputs generated by locomotion.

Summary Sensory experience often depends on one’s own actions, including self-motion. Theories of predictive coding postulate that actions are regulated by calculating prediction error, which is the difference between sensory experience and expectation based on self-generated actions. Signals consistent with prediction error have been reported in the mouse visual cortex (V1) when visual flow coupled to running was unexpectedly stopped. Here, we show that such signals can be elicited by visual stimuli uncoupled to an animal running. We record V1 neurons while presenting drifting gratings that unexpectedly stop. We find strong responses to visual perturbations, which are enhanced during running. Perturbation responses are strongest in the preferred orientation of individual neurons, and perturbation-responsive neurons are more likely to prefer slow visual speeds. Our results indicate that prediction error signals can be explained by the convergence of known motor and sensory signals, providing a purely sensory and motor explanation for purported mismatch signals., Graphical abstract, Highlights • Mouse primary visual cortex neurons respond to perturbations of visual flow • Perturbation responses are enhanced by running • Perturbation responses are stronger in the preferred orientation of the neurons • Perturbation-responsive neurons are tuned to slow visual speeds, Muzzu and Saleem find neurons in the mouse visual cortex responding to stops or perturbations of open-loop visual flow. Perturbation responses are enhanced by running, and responsive neurons prefer low visual speeds. These results suggest concurrent selectivity for low visual speeds and running can explain sensorimotor mismatch signals in the visual cortex.

Hydrate blockages impose a serious flow assurance problem on gas transportation pipelines. Regular inspections for the formation of hydrate blockages are imperative along with the use of an effective blockage removal method. In this study, the processes of hydrate blockage formation and removal were investigated using a fully visual flow loop. Comprehensive analysis of the pressure drop was performed along with a discussion of the acquired visual images of the hydrates to describe the phenomena. Hydrate blockage first occurred in no through-flow zone of the pipeline, specifically in deadleg. The results showed that higher LL (liquid loading: the initial liquid volume fraction) caused a blockage in the inlet, while lower LL caused a faster and more widespread blockage. Moreover, shut-in and restart operations also caused blockages due to the temperature decrease and annealing of hydrate. The experiments showed that blockages formed more quickly as a result of lower LL during the shut-in operation. This necessitated the reduction of shut-in duration and maintenance of the temperature at phase equilibrium condition. In addition, the depressurization method was used to decompose bulk hydrate in order to remove the blockage. The results confirmed that stepwise depressurization could be applied to prevent hydrate reformation at a higher LL and water conversion rate, while a lower backpressure could be used at lower LL to efficiently remove blockages.

New research identifies a frontal area in the mouse neocortex that sends predictions of locomotion-coupled visual flow to visual cortex. The findings support predictive coding theories of cortical processing.

Compensation for wind drift in relation to the side-wind velocity and altitude was investigated in Song Thrushes during autumn migration. The birds were recorded at night flying above the prominent leading line of a marine spit which coincided with the general direction of their migration. Among the large size passerine species, Song Thrushes were identified by a combination of five flight characteristics typical only of this species during particular periods of autumn. The thrushes showed different reactions to the crosswinds: complete and partial compensation for the displacement and drift. Under normal visibility, the completeness of compensation depended both on the velocity of the side-wind and altitude. The degree of compensation achieved was reduced with an increase of altitude, regardless of the wind. Under the same wind conditions, the angle of drift (the angle between the track direction and the leading line) increased with altitude, but the number of birds that compensated for drift decreased. On average, at heights below 300 m agl, the thrushes were capable of compensating completely for moderate winds; between 300 and 600 m agl compensation was partial; but above 600 m the birds drifted completely. Birds of the same species flying above the same terrain may demonstrate different reactions to the same crosswind depending on altitude. Meanwhile, flight tracks gradually deviated from the leading line with an increase in altitude, the headings of the birds got closer to the general migratory direction. It is more likely that the birds control displacement using the visual flow regulation principle by the angular velocity of the landmarks below them running aside in relation to their flight direction, which is inversely proportional to the altitude. Low flying thrushes promptly reacted to the shifting of the leading line of the spit with an average angular velocity of more than 0.8°/s perpendicular to the direction of flight and compensated completely for drift. Shifting of the leading line with an angular velocity of less than 0.4°/s, the high flying birds did not seem to notice or did not try to compensate for displacement deliberately.

When a behavior repeatedly fails to achieve its goal, animals often give up and become passive, which can be strategic for preserving energy or regrouping between attempts. It is unknown how the brain identifies behavioral failures and mediates this behavioral-state switch. In larval zebrafish swimming in virtual reality, visual feedback can be withheld so that swim attempts fail to trigger expected visual flow. After tens of seconds of such motor futility, animals became passive for similar durations. Whole-brain calcium imaging revealed noradrenergic neurons that responded specifically to failed swim attempts and radial astrocytes whose calcium levels accumulated with increasing numbers of failed attempts. Using cell ablation and optogenetic or chemogenetic activation, we found that noradrenergic neurons progressively activated brainstem radial astrocytes, which then suppressed swimming. Thus, radial astrocytes perform a computation critical for behavior: they accumulate evidence that current actions are ineffective and consequently drive changes in behavioral states. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Eye and head tracking of an oscillating visual flow was studied in 1-, 2-, and 3-month-old infants using EOG and an opto-electronic system. A pronounced decrease in phaselag of gaze velocity was observed over this age period, from 170 to 70 msec, but gain changed only marginally. Latency of the onset of tracking decreased with age from 860 to 560 msec. During tracking, the velocity of the head showed high frequency components in the 1–6 Hz range, to which the eye movements were reciprocal and without systematic phase lag. This coordination improved with age.

A low-cost solution for a visual flow field device is described. The apparatus generates progressive and regressive patterns of motion with variable angular speeds and intensities. Additionally, rotational stimuli can be applied. First results show the efficiency of the flow field in producing flight behavior and steering responses in visual interneurons of locusts.

Spatial disorientation, which is responsible for up to 30% of aircraft accidents causes impairment of cognitive function which may further compromise a pilotA¢Â?Â?s ability to think his way out of the situation and regain control [1,]. The functional-anatomical separation of spatial and verbal processing [10,11] raises the possibility of selective interference between the task of resolving spatial disorientation and the ability to perform concurrent spatial, as opposed to verbal, secondary tasks. We report for the first time a degradation of spatial task performance with preservation of verbal performance when subjects in a simulator are disoriented by conflict between self- motion and visual flow in the view of the external environment.

In this paper we present a novel modeling approach for studying the critical behavior of phase separating fluids in porous media. Visual flow cells or micromodels, which consist of a two-dimensional network of pores and throats etched into a transparent substrate, provide ideal realizations of porous media and simple partially miscible binary fluid mixtures are used as representatives of a wide range of critical fluid systems. We present experimental results, using 2,6-lutidine—water mixtures, illustrating the distribution of the phases within the pore space following a “quench” into the two-phase region close to criticality.

The paper is an experimental investigation of the aerated-thermosyphon, or aerosyphon. The work combines a visual flow study with a series of heat-transfer experiments in an attempt to understand the modus operandi of the device and explore its unusual heat-transfer characteristics.

X-Ray radiographs of polystyrene powder have been obtained in the course of an investigation into their mechanism of flow from hoppers. Whenever a radiograph was taken of a powder after flow out of an aperture, distinct and discontinuous internal surfaces of low powder density were seen. It is shown that the properties of these surfaces are consistent with their being along the slip directions predicted for failure of a plastic material. A cine film is available in which the visual flow that can be seen through the sides of the hoppers is compared with cine X-ray film in which the discontinuous lines can be seen forming and moving during the flow and with their stationary pattern when flow is stopped. The significance of these experimental observations is discussed, with special reference to what can be deduced from them about the stress fields.