LONG-TERM SENSITIVITY ADJUSTMENT OF THE COMPOUND EYES OF THE HOUSEFLY MUSCA-DOMESTICA DURING EARLY ADULT LIFE

Electroretinography was used to determine the influence of postnatal light deprivation of the compound eyes of the housefly, Musca domestica, on their sensitivity to square light pulses of 1-s duration. The results show age-dependent sensitivity to light in flies of both sexes. and that flies that were kept in complete darkness for 5 days after emergence have a significantly higher light sensitivity and light contrast sensitivity in later life than flies raised in a normal light-dark cycle. The possibility is discussed that there is a critical period in which visual experience is responsible for a long-term sensitivity adjustment.