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Spider Proprioception: Receptors, Reflexes, and Control of Locomotion

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Neurobiology of Arachnids

Abstract

Historically, the question of how animals control their own movements has been a major concern of behavioral physiology. Much of the early and recent work has focused upon the recurring debate about central versus peripheral control of repetitive behavior such as locomotion. While many rhythmic behaviors such as walking, flying, or breathing can be maintained in the absence of patterned sensory input, there is now apparent consent among neurobiologists that peripheral feedback by way of sensory receptors (such as proprioceptors) is essential for fine control of certain behavior patterns and for reacting to the environment as the situation may demand (Delcomyn 1980; Selverston 1980).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologisches Institut, J.-W.-Goethe-Universität, Gruppe Sinnesphysiologie, Siesmayerstraße 70, D-6000, Frankfurt am Main 1, Federal Republic of Germany

    Ernst-August Seyfarth

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  1. Ernst-August Seyfarth
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  1. Zoologisches Institut, Fachbereich Biologie, J.-W.-Goethe-Universität, Siesmayerstraße 70, D-6000, Frankfurt am Main 1, Germany

    Friedrich G. Barth

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Seyfarth, EA. (1985). Spider Proprioception: Receptors, Reflexes, and Control of Locomotion. In: Barth, F.G. (eds) Neurobiology of Arachnids. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70348-5_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70348-5_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-70350-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-70348-5

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