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Physiological characteristics of auditory receptors inHemideina crassidens (Blanchard) (Ensifera: Stenopelmatidae)

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Summary

  1. 1.

    Physiological characteristics of single, primary auditory units have been examined in a member of the Orthopteran family Stenopelmatidae.

  2. 2.

    Individual units are tuned more sharply than the whole auditory organ. Units have peaks of sensitivity within the bandwidth described by the summed threshold curve of the auditory organ.

  3. 3.

    Some units display one or two additional peaks of sensitivity at higher frequencies, which may not be harmonically related to the major peak.

  4. 4.

    Units respond to tones with a tonic discharge in which an initial, partial adaptation may occur. Stimulus intensity is coded in terms of spike rate and latency and units display typical, sigmoidal input-output curves. High intensity suppression of the response is sometimes observed.

  5. 5.

    Repetition rates of brief sound pulses that units can follow are limited by mechanical and/or physiological aspects of the sensory process. Minimum latency of response is of the order of 13 ms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurobiology, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, 2601, Canberra City, A.C.T., Australia

    K. G. Hill

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  1. K. G. Hill
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I thank Ray Stone for excellent technical assistance, Dr. E. Ball for comments on the manuscript and Dr. L. Field for making the material available.

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Hill, K.G. Physiological characteristics of auditory receptors inHemideina crassidens (Blanchard) (Ensifera: Stenopelmatidae). J. Comp. Physiol. 141, 39–46 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00611876

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00611876

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