Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The jamming avoidance response in the weakly electric fishEigenmannia

A behavior controlled by distributed evaluation of electroreceptive afferences

  • Published:
Naturwissenschaften Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study analyzes the algorithm by which the animal's nervous system evaluates spatially distributed temporal patterns of electroreceptive information. The outcome of this evaluation controls the jamming avoidance response, which is a shift in the animal's electric organ discharge frequency away from similar foreign frequencies. The encoding of “behaviorally relevant” stimulus variables by electroreceptors and the central computation of their messages are investigated by combined behavioral and neurophysiological strategies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Szabo, T., Fessard, A., in: Handbook for Sensory Physiology, Vol. III/3, p. 59 (Fessard, A., ed.). Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1974

    Google Scholar 

  2. Maler, L.: J. Comp. Neurol.183, 2, 323 (1979)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Maler, L., Finger, T., Karten, H.J.: ibid.158, 363 (1974)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Heiligenberg, W., et al.: Missing links in the neuronal hardware of the jamming avoidance response (JAR) in the electric fish,Eigenmannia. Society of Neuroscience, 10th annual meeting. Vol. 6, abstract 00230 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Lissmann, H.W., Machin, K.E.: J. Exp. Biol.35, 451 (1958)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Heiligenberg, W.: Principles of Electrolocation and Jamming Avoidance in Electric Fish (Studies of Brain Function, Vol. 1, p. 1). Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1977

    Google Scholar 

  7. Bullock, T.H., Behrend, K., Heiligenberg, W.: J. Comp. Physiol.103, 97 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Watanabe, A., Takeda, K.: J. Exp. Biol.40, 57 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Heiligenberg, W.: J. Comp. Physiol.87, 137 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Heiligenberg, W., Baker, C., Matsubara, J.: ibid.127, 267 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Heiligenberg, W., Bastian, J.: ibid.136, 113 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Bastian, J., Heiligenberg, W.: ibid.136, 135 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Bastian, J., Heiligenberg, W.: Science (in press)

  14. Partridge, B.L., Heiligenberg, W.: J. Comp. Physiol.136, 153 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Bullock, T.H., Hamstra, R.H., Scheich, H.: ibid.77, 1 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Scheich, H., Bullock, T.H., in: Handbook of Sensory Physiology, Vol. III/3, p. 201 (Fessard, A., ed.). Berlin-Heidelberg-New York: Springer 1974

    Google Scholar 

  17. Scheich, H.: J. Comp. Physiol.113, 181 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Heiligenberg, W., Partridge, B.L.: in preparation

  19. Scheich, H., Bullock, T.H., Hamstra, R.H.: J. Neurophysiol.36, 39 (1973)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Reichardt, W., in: Sensory Communication, p. 303 (Rosenblith, W.A., ed.). New York: Wiley 1961

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurobiology Unit, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California at San Diego, 92093, La Jolla, California, USA

    Walter Heiligenberg

Authors
  1. Walter Heiligenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

I thank Drs. H. Autrum, T.H. Bullock and C.L. Baker for most helpful comments on this manuscript. This research was supported by NIMH grant PHSMH-2614904 and NSF grant BNS76-20761.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Heiligenberg, W. The jamming avoidance response in the weakly electric fishEigenmannia . Naturwissenschaften 67, 499–507 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01047630

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01047630

Keywords

Search

Navigation