On Optical Crosstalk between Fly Rhabdomeres

In a fly retinula light may be transferred among the rhabdomeres. It is estimated that the light from a point source imaged on the axis of a rhabdomere may eventually be transferred completely to a neighbouring rhabdomere. However, the effect on the sensitivity of this latter rhabdomere will remain small, owing to the fact that the light transfer occurs only proximally. This result is in accordance with the neural superposition theory of fly vision.