SENSORY MECHANISMS OF BIOELECTRIC SIGNAL PROCESSING

神经学家依靠动物模型进行基础研究 神经过程。在这个广阔的领域里，神经行为学一直专注于 对自然行为的分析，通常是与感官有关的行为 关键信号的处理。我们对神经解剖学的理解， 生理学和人类感官系统的发展主要来自于 脊椎动物模型系统的研究。 G形电鱼已成为研究人类免疫缺陷的主要模型 脊椎动物神经网络间的并行处理与组织 感觉和运动系统。神经学家已经追踪到了电感官 从感觉外周，通过大脑，再回到 马达输出。裸体类电鱼使用相同的神经网络来处理 三种不同的功能：电子定位、通信和干扰 回避。因此，体操状的电感系统是一种 探索并行处理灵活性的优秀模型 网络。对这三种感觉功能的行为研究形成了 为研究所涉及的大脑网络的特性奠定了基础。 本研究旨在揭示电刺激的行为机制(S) 社会交往中涉及的信号歧视。进一步 对潜在网络和神经机制的研究只需一次 我们知道电鱼用来区分的行为算法 在信号波形中。裸体形鱼似乎控制着它们的运动 输出(电信号)以增强他们对信号的感觉处理 从其他鱼身上。组合信号和以克服惯性 外周受体系统，但必须再次由中央分离 网络。 这里提出的这项研究遵循了一个合理的进程。1.经过校准的 一组自然信号将从户外的鱼身上数字化 在随后的实验中用作刺激的繁殖菌落。2.下一个 步骤将是校准研究物种的感觉阈值，方法是 获得两种类型的行为调整曲线：对纯行为的敏感性 接收器和信号器对组合信号的敏感度。 3.信号马达模式将在实验中记录下来，以诱导 自然歧视行为。在这种情况下，运动行为将是 经过详细分析，以记录准确的时间和方式 接收器将其信号与信号器的信号重叠(即，组合 信号)。4.本提案中的最终实验将揭示 用于信号识别和运动行为的显著特征 这是准确识别信号所必需的。

Neuroscientists rely on animal models for the investigation of basic neural processes. Within this broad field, neuroethology has focused on the analysis of natural behaviors, often those associated with sensory processing of critical signals. Our understanding of the neuroanatomy, physiology, and development of human sensory systems comes largely from study of vertebrate model system. Glymnotiform electric fish have become leading models for investigation of parallel processing and organization among neural networks in vertebrate sensory and motor systems. Neuroscientists have traced the electrosensory pathway from the sensory periphery, through the brain, and back to the motor output. Gymnotiform electric fish use the same neural networks for three different functions: electrolocation, communication, and jamming avoidance. The gymnotiform electrosensory system is therefore an excellent model for exploring the flexibility of parallel processing networks. Behavioral studies of these three sensory functions form the base for investigation of the properties of the brain networks involved. This study is designed to reveal the behavioral mechanism(s) of electric signal discrimination involved in social communication. Further investigation of underlying networks and neural mechanisms can follow once we know the behavioral algorithms that electric fish use to discriminate among signal waveforms. Gymnotiform fish appear to control their motor output (electric signals) to enhance their sensory processing of signals from other fish. Combined signals sum to overcome inertia of the peripheral receptor system but must be separated once again by the central networks. The study proposed here follows a rational progression. 1. A calibrated set of natural signals will be digitized from the fish in an outdoor breeding colony for use as stimuli in subsequent experiments. 2. The next step will be to calibrate the sensory thresholds of the study species by obtaining two types of behavioral tuning curves: sensitivity to pure signals and the sensitivity to combined signals of receiver and signaler. 3. Signal motor patterns will be recorded in experiments that elicit natural discrimination behavior. Motor behavior in this context will be subjected to detailed analysis to document precisely when and how the receiver overlaps its signal with that of the signaler (i.e., combines signals). 4. The final experiments in this proposal will reveal the salient features used for signal discrimination and the motor behaviors required for accurate discrimination of signals.