Abstract
Two types of sensillum have previously been described in the trochanteral hair plate of the cockroach with differences in physical size, extracellularly recorded impulse amplitude and response to displacement. We have now examined the dynamic behaviour of the two types of sesillum in response to sinusoidal and random displacements. Type I sensilla have a frequency threshold of about 6 Hz, below which there is no response to sinusoidal displacement. Above the frequency threshold they behave as velocity sensors with a 90° phase lead of response over displacement and increasing response with increasing frequency. Type II sensilla have no detectable frequency threshold and behave as position sensors at low frequencies. With increasing frequency they display a phase lead over the stimulus but it nerver exceeds about 60°. Random stimulation followed by spectral analysis of the input-output relations give similar descriptions to the sinusoidal results except that low frequency position sensitivity is revealed in the Type I sensilla. The coherence function for both types of sensillum is low, indicating that the linear frequency response functions are poor approximations to the total behaviour of the sensilla. Earlier investigations of these receptors in a range of insects suggested that they are primarily involved in the control of joint positions during very slow movements. However, the present results, together with other recent work, indicates that they are also important in the control of rapid movements.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beastall, H.R.: White noise generator. Wireless World 78, 127 (1972)
Cooley, J.W., Tukey, J.W.: An algorithm for the machine calculation of complex Fourier series. Math. comput. 19, 297, (1965)
French, A.S.: Pulse, an event/time histogramming program. Comp. Progr. Bio Med. 1, 105 (1970)
French, A.S., Holden, A.V.: Alias-free sampling of neuronal spike trains. Kybernetik 8, 165 (1971)
French, A.S., Holden, A.V., Stein, R.B.: The estimation of the frequency response function of a mechanoreceptor. Kybernetik 11, 15 (1972)
French, A.S., Butz, E.G.: Measuring the Wiener kernels of a nonlinear system using the fast Fourier transform algorithm. Int. J. Control 17, 529 (1973)
Goodman, L.J.: Hair plates on the first cervical sclerites of the orthoptera. Nature (Lond.) 183, 1106 (1959)
Haskell, P.T.: Function of certain prothoracic hair receptors in the desert locust. Nature (Lond.) 183, 1107 (1959)
Jenkins, G.M., Watts, D.G.: Spectral analysis and its applications. San Francisco: Holden-Day 1968
Mittelstaedt, H.: Physiologie des Gleichgewichtssinnes bei fliegenden. Libellen. Z. Vergl. Physiol. 32, 422 (1950)
Mittelstaedt, H.: Prey capture in mantids. In: Scheer, B.T., Bullock, T.H., Kleinholz, L.H., Martin, A.W. (Eds.): Recent advances in invertebrate physiology. Oregon: University of Oregon Publications 1957
Pringle, J.W.S.: Proprioception in insects. III. The function of the hair sensilla at the joints. J. exp. Biol. 15, 467 (1938)
Pringle, J.W.S.: Proprioception in arthropods. In: Ramsay, J.A., Wigglesworth, V.B. (Eds.): The cell and the organism. 1961
Rescigno, A., Stein, R.B., Purple, R.L., Poppele, R.E.: A neuronal model for the discharge patterns produced by cyclic inputs. Bull. Math. Biophys. 32, 337 (1970)
Spekreijse, H., Oosting, H.: Linearizing: a method for analysing and synthesizing nonlinear systems. Kybernetik 7, 22 (1970)
Stein, R.B., French, A.S., Holden, A.V.: The frequency response, coherence, and information capacity of two neuronal models. Biophys. J. 12, 295 (1972)
Wendler, G.: Die Regelung der Körperhaltung bei Stabheuschrecken (Carausius morosus). Naturwissenschaften 48, 676 (1961)
Wendler, G.: Laufen und Stehen der Stabheuschrecke Carausius morosus: Sinnesborstenfelder in den Beingelenken als Glieder von Regelkreisen. Z. Vergl. Physiol. 48, 198 (1964)
Wendler, G.: The co-ordination of walking movements in arthropods. Symp. Soc. exp. Biol. 20, 229 (1966)
Wiener, N.: Nonlinear problems in random theory. New York: John Wiley and Sons 1958
Wilson, D.M., Wyman, R.J.: Motor output patterns during random and rhythmic stimulation of locust thoracic ganglia. Biophys. J. 5, 121 (1965)
Wong, R. K. S., Pearson, K. G.: Properties of the trochanteral hair plate and its function in the control of walking in the cockroach. Submitted for publication in J. exp. Biol. (1975)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
French, A.S., Wong, R.K.S. The responses of trochanteral hair plate sensilla in the cockroach to periodic and random displacements. Biol. Cybernetics 22, 33–38 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00340230
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00340230