|
THE ELECTROSENSE OF GYMNOTIDS
|
| | |
|
|
Properties of the electrosense
|
|
|
|
The gymnotids, weakly electric fish, generate a low-voltage electric field around themnselves from an electric organ located in their tail. This electric field is detected by electroreceptors found scattered across the body of the fish. These electroreceptors are innervated with primary afferents so that information picked up from environmental cues may be relayed to the electrosensory processing center. The electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL) is a cerebellum-like structure where this processing occurs. It is this place within the brain of the fish that correlations of exogenous stimuli with endogenous stimuli allow for the fish to accurately understand what it's environment consists of.
|
|
|
|
What is the electrosense used for?
|
|
The electrosense is used for predator/prey detection, object detection, navigation,and reproduction. Predator and prey detection is accomplished by understanding the distortions of the fish's own electric field from existing capacitative and resistive objects. The electroreceptors located on the body surface relay these distortions to the CNS for further processing.
|
|
|
|
|
My interests:�Computers/Technology�Health/Fitness�Latin Culture�Movies/TV�Music: Blues�Music: Dance Music�Music: R and B, Soul�Music: Rock and Pop�Natural Sciences�Pets/Animals�School/College
| |
|
|
Favourite links
| |
| |
