Perception of the Electric Organ Discharge of Conspecifics by a Weakly Electric Fish

长期以来，科学家们一直对了解神经系统的 感知的潜在过程 在人类中，这些过程和 感官刺激本身往往是如此复杂， 对感知过程的完全理解是难以实现的。 然而，在更简单的动物模型方面已经取得了很大进展 其中（1）所讨论的感官刺激很容易 可以量化，可以操纵，（2）有一种方法可以告诉 动物是否能察觉刺激，以及（3）反应 负责感知的神经元的特性可以是 直接测量。 电鱼提供了这样一个模型系统。 Zakon博士的研究涉及一种鱼类， 它尾巴上的一个器官会产生微弱的电场 这 电场（电器官放电，或EOD）围绕着鱼的 身体 这种动物能够导航和定位物体， 通过检测电场的扭曲， 体表有专门的电感受器。 爆炸物处置 也广泛用于鱼类之间的交流。 EOD电压以接近正弦的方式变化。 爆炸物处置 每个人的频率是独特的，男性和 女性的差别大约是一个八度。 电感受器是 调整到鱼自己的EOD频率， 其他频率。 那么，鱼是如何感知EOD的呢？ 是由异性制造的吗 当两条电鱼靠近时，每条鱼的 电感受器被信号刺激，该信号是以下信号的总和： 两个EOD 爆炸物处理信号的这种相互作用可能使 来探测对方的爆炸物 使用行为训练 和神经生理学记录技术，扎肯博士是 研究如何感知这些爆炸物处理信号的总和， 关于另一条鱼的存在的信息是从 这个信号。 Zakon博士的研究阐明了 一种生物学上相关的刺激。 这种理解可以是 因为电鱼通常依靠电信号 对该物种其他成员的检测， 电信号易于测量和操作。 的 应阐明信号分析的基本过程， 有助于理解其他脊椎动物的感知系统。

Scientists have long been interested in understanding the neural processes underlying perception. In humans, these processes and the sensory stimuli themselves are often so complicated that a complete understanding of the perceptual process is elusive. Much progress has been made, however, with simpler animal models in which (1) the sensory stimulus in question is easily quantifiable and can be manipulated, (2) there is a way to tell if the animal can detect the stimulus, and (3) the response properties of the neurons responsible for the perception can be measured directly. Electric fish provide such a model system. Dr. Zakon's research involves a species of fish that continuously produces a weak electric field from an organ in its tail. This field (the electric organ discharge, or EOD) surrounds the fish's body. The animal is able to navigate and localize objects in dark, murky water by detecting distortions in the electric field with specialized electroreceptors on the body surface. The EOD is also used extensively in communication between fish. The EOD voltage varies in a nearly sinusoidal fashion. The EOD frequency of each individual is unique, and that of males and females differs by roughly an octave. The electroreceptors are tuned to the fish's own EOD frequency and are much less sensitive to other frequencies. How, then, does the fish perceive the EODs produced by members of the opposite sex? When two electric fish are close to each other, each fish's electroreceptors are stimulated by a signal that is the sum of the two EODs. This interaction of EOD signals probably allows the fish to detect each other's EODs. Using behavioral training and neurophysiological recording techniques, Dr. Zakon is studying how these summed EOD signals are perceived and how information about the presence of another fish is extracted from this signal. Dr. Zakon's research is elucidating the perception and analysis of a biologically relevant stimulus. This understanding can be gained because electric fish often rely on electrical signals for the detection of other members of the species and because electrical signals are easy to measure and manipulate. The underlying processes of signal analysis elucidated should be useful in understanding perceptual systems in other vertebrates.