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Postsynaptic Modulation Of Rectifying Electrical Synaptic Inputs To The Lg Escape Command Neuron In Crayfish, Donald H. Edwards, William J. Heitler, Esther M. Leise, Russell A. Fricke
Postsynaptic Modulation Of Rectifying Electrical Synaptic Inputs To The Lg Escape Command Neuron In Crayfish, Donald H. Edwards, William J. Heitler, Esther M. Leise, Russell A. Fricke
Neuroscience Institute Faculty Publications
The lateral giant (LG) tail-flip escape system of crayfish is organized to provide a massive convergence of mechanosensory inputs onto the LG command neuron through electrical synapses from both mechanosensory afferents and interneurons. We used electrophysiological techniques to show that the connections between three major mechanosensory interneurons and LG rectify, and that their inputs to LG can be reduced by postsynaptic depolarization and increased by postsynaptic hyperpolarization. The mechanosensory afferents and interneurons are excited by sensory nerve shock, and the components of the resulting LG PSP can be similarly modulated by the same postsynaptic potential changes. Because these inputs are …
Mutual Inhibition Among Neural Command Systems As A Possible Mechanism For Behavioral Choice In Crayfish, Donald H. Edwards
Mutual Inhibition Among Neural Command Systems As A Possible Mechanism For Behavioral Choice In Crayfish, Donald H. Edwards
Neuroscience Institute Faculty Publications
Mutual inhibition among behavioral command systems frequently has been suggested as a possible mechanism for switching between incompatible behaviors. Several neural circuits in crayfish that mediate incompatible behaviors have been found to interact through inhibition; this accounts for increased stimulus threshold of one behavior (e.g., escape tailflip) during performance of others (eating, walking, defense). To determine whether mutual inhibition between command systems can provide a mechanism that produces adaptive behavior, I developed a model crayfish that uses this mechanism to govern its behavioral choices in a simulated world that contains a predator, a shelter, and a food source. The crayfish …