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The Mechanism of Electrolocation

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Part of the book series: Studies of Brain Function ((BRAIN FUNCTION,volume 1))

Abstract

The electric organ of gymnotoid and mormyriform fishes consists of columns of electrocytes. These columns are surrounded by insulating tissues and are longitudinally packed into the animal’s tail section. Depending upon the species, they may reach into the anterior body section as far as the pectoral fin region (Fig. 6, top). During an EOD, a voltage gradient builds up along the animal’s longitudinal axis and the field emanating from its body resembles a dipole field.

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© 1977 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Heiligenberg, W. (1977). The Mechanism of Electrolocation. In: Principles of Electrolocation and Jamming Avoidance in Electric Fish. Studies of Brain Function, vol 1. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-81161-6_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-81161-6_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-08367-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-81161-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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