Abstract
We present a model for the processing of different movement patterns in the early visual system. The model consists of two processing stages, retina and optic tectum. The temporal structure of movement patterns is translated into a temporal structure of neural responses. This is accomplished by applying gain control in the retina, depressive synaptic transmission and adaptation in tectum to obtain a model that recovers during low activity in motion pauses. The model is especially sensitive to beginning movement after such pauses, enabling fast prey capture reactions in tongue-projecting salamanders.