Localization of Electric Communication Signals

感觉器官提供两种平行的重要功能。它们用于检测和识别特定的刺激，并在空间中定位刺激；然后，动物可以对引导行为做出适当的行为反应，并具有正确的空间方向。电接收是一种特殊的感觉，一些鱼利用电器官产生放电，用于物体检测和通信。与为听觉定位提供时间线索的传播声音不同，电信号的作用是即时的；与为视觉定位提供视线的直线光线不同，电流的矢量通常是弯曲的。本计画检视定向电感行为在电鱼的指导，使用行为，生理学，和电脑模型。三维视频分析将被用来量化鱼的游动路径，因为鱼的方向是模仿其他电鱼的远处放电。这种行为包括使身体轴线与电场矢量平行，并向电流源游去。接近轨迹将与计算得出的电场相关，该电场将包括水族馆几何形状，以及固定和移动电极。将记录支配两类电感受器的神经的电生理活动，以表征电场参数的感觉编码。生理结果将与鱼皮肤上电场的理论分析进行比较，电场是几何形状和皮肤阻力的函数。刺激定位机制是感觉加工的基础。这项研究采用了一种新颖的方法，将为理解电感觉和其他一般感觉系统提供实质性的贡献。

Sense organs provide two parallel important functions. They serve to detect and recognize particular stimuli, and to localize a stimulus in space; the animal then can make appropriate behavioral responses with a correct spatial orientation to the guided behavior. Electroreception is a special sense exploited by several fishes that use electric organs to produce a discharge used for object detection and communication. Unlike propagated sound that gives timing cues for auditory localization, electric signals act instantly; unlike straight rays of light that give sight lines for visual localization, the vectors of the electric currents are often curved. This project examines the guidance of oriented electrosen- sory behavior in electric fish using behavior, physiology, and computer modelling. Video analysis in three dimensions will be used to quantify the swimming path as a fish orients to distant electric discharges that mimic other electric fish. This behavior involves aligning the body axis parallel to the electric field vector, and swimming toward the current source. The approach track will be correlated with the electric field derived by computation that will include aquarium geometry, and both stationary and moving electrodes. Electrophysiological activity will be recorded from the nerves that innervate two classes of electroreceptors, to characterize the sensory coding of the electric field parameters. The physiological results will be compared to theoretical analyses of the electric field across the fish's skin, as a function of geometry and skin resistance. Mechanisms of stimulus localization are fundamental to sensory processing. This study uses a novel approach that will provide a substantial contribution to understanding electrosense in particular, and other sensory systems in general.