Stochastic phase synchronization in the crayfish mechanoreceptor/photoreceptor system

The two light-sensitive neurons in the crayfish's abdominal sixth ganglion ("caudal photoreceptors," or CPRs), are both primary light sensors and secondary neurons in a mechanosensory pathway. Pei et al. (1996) demonstrated that light enhances the transduction of weak, periodic hydrodynamic stimuli (measured as an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio at the stimulus frequency in the power spectrum of the recorded neural spikes). This has been interpreted as a stochastic resonance effect, in which added light increases the noise intensity of the input to the photoreceptor (possibly through fluctuations in membrane potential), leading to an enhancement of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Here, we discuss the recent demonstration (Bahar et al., 2002) of the correlation between a stochastic-resonance-like effect and an increase in stochastic phase synchronization between the neural response and a periodic mechanical stimulus. We also discuss a novel effect (Bahar et al., 2002) in which light increases the SNR of the second higher harmonic of a periodic input signal, effectively rectifying the input signal. This "second harmonic effect" can also be interpreted in terms of stochastic phase synchronization (Bahar et al., 2002). We review other recent results on the role of stochastic phase synchronization in mediating sensory responses in the crayfish nervous system.