Related Experiment Videos
Dynamic and static hysteresis in crayfish stretch receptors
Biological Cybernetics
|January 1, 1985
Summary
Hysteresis, a phenomenon where past states influence current responses, is pervasive in crayfish stretch receptor organs. This memory effect impacts how sensory systems encode information, potentially affecting stimulus interpretation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biophysics
- Sensory Physiology
Background:
- Hysteresis, a memory effect, is observed in biological systems.
- Crayfish stretch receptor organs (SROs) are model systems for studying sensory transduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the magnitude and pervasiveness of hysteresis in crayfish SROs.
- To analyze the influence of previous length history on afferent discharge rates.
Main Methods:
- Quasi-sinusoidal length modulation and step-like length changes were applied to SROs.
- Length-versus-rate Lissajous plots were used to visualize hysteretic loops.
- Both slowly adapting organs (SAO) and fast-adapting organs (FAO) were studied.
Main Results:
- Significant hysteresis was observed in the coding from length to afferent discharges.
- Hysteretic loops were present under both dynamic and static conditions.
- Loop width decreased with increasing frequency, except under specific locking conditions.
Conclusions:
- Hysteresis in SROs likely involves both mechanical and electrogenic factors.
- The multi-valued nature of hysteresis raises questions about stimulus magnitude inference.
- Hysteresis may be a widespread phenomenon in sensory and other biological systems.