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Vibration-evoked startle behavior in larval lampreys.

S N Currie1

  • 1Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.

Brain, Behavior and Evolution
|January 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

Larval lampreys use a startle response to burrow deeper when disturbed. This involves Mauthner neurons, which are less active during swimming or arousal to prevent false alarms.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Comparative Physiology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Larval lampreys (ammocoetes) display a rapid, vibration-evoked startle response.
  • This response involves bilateral muscle activation and is influenced by the animal's posture.
  • The behavior facilitates head withdrawal into burrows, crucial for their feeding strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural mechanisms underlying the ammocoete startle response.
  • To determine the role of Mauthner neurons in processing vibratory stimuli and initiating the startle behavior.
  • To explore how behavioral state modulates Mauthner cell excitability and sensory input.

Main Methods:

  • Vibratory stimulation of semi-intact ammocoete preparations.
  • Electrophysiological recordings of Mauthner neurons and trunk musculature (electromyography).
  • Intracellular stimulation of Mauthner axons to compare evoked responses with vibration-evoked responses.

Main Results:

  • Vibratory stimuli activate bilateral primary Mauthner neurons and Müller cells.
  • Mauthner neuron activation is necessary and sufficient for generating the startle response electromyographic amplitudes.
  • Mauthner cell excitability is reduced during swimming and arousal, characterized by depolarization, increased conductance, and attenuated synaptic inputs.

Conclusions:

  • The Mauthner neuron system is central to the ammocoete vibration-startle response.
  • Central modulation of Mauthner cell excitability during different behavioral states prevents inappropriate activation of the startle circuit.
  • This modulation is crucial for distinguishing relevant threats from normal activity, ensuring efficient burrowing and survival.

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