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Properties of electrosensory neurons in the cortex of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus): Implications for processing of electrosensory stimuli

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 00:38 authored by Manger, PR, Calford, MB, Pettigrew, JD
Electroreceptor organs and mechanoreceptor organs located in the bill skin of the platypus are used by the animal to locate prey items, underwater, with eyes and ears closed. The precise manner in how these senses aid the platypus to locate food is not yet known. In this study we provide data on the activity of cortical neurons in the bill representation of SI when stimulated electrically, mechanically, and concurrently. Within the SI bill representation, there are alternating stripes of cortex that represent purely mechanical inputs, and combined electrical and mechanical inputs. Generally, the bimodal units responded more vigorously to electrical stimulation and had very small dynamic ranges, usually saturating within 20 μV cm -1 of threshold. Latencies to electrical or mechanical stimulation were around 25 ms, but were significantly reduced for concurrent stimulation. Combined with the previously reported observation that the receptive fields of bimodal neurons within cortical modules were the same, and that thresholds varied considerably, the observation of limited dynamic range suggests a mechanism for localization of stimuli. A model is developed wherein the relative activation of a module is dependent on its proximity to the source.

History

Publication title

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Volume

263

Issue

1370

Pagination

611-617

ISSN

0962-8452

Department/School

DVC - Academic

Publisher

Royal Soc London

Place of publication

6 Carlton House Terrace, London, England, Sw1Y 5Ag

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified