Pulse-rate recognition in an insect: evidence of a role for oscillatory neurons

Various mechanisms have been proposed as the neural basis for pulse-rate recognition in insects and anurans, including models employing high- and low-pass filters, autocorrelation, and neural resonance. We used the katydid Tettigonia cantans to test these models by measuring female responsiveness on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Comparative Physiology 2006-02, Vol.192 (2), p.113-121
Main Authors: Bush, S.L, Schul, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
acoustic communication
acoustic properties
acoustic stimuli
Animals
Auditory Perception - physiology
Biological Clocks - physiology
Evidence-Based Medicine
Female
Females
frequency
Gait - physiology
insect communication
Models, Neurological
Neurons, Afferent - physiology
Orthoptera - physiology
pattern recognition
Pattern Recognition, Physiological - physiology
phonotaxis
resonance
sensory neurons
signal recognition
sounds
temporal variation
Tettigonia cantans
Tettigoniidae
Vocalization, Animal - physiology
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Summary:Various mechanisms have been proposed as the neural basis for pulse-rate recognition in insects and anurans, including models employing high- and low-pass filters, autocorrelation, and neural resonance. We used the katydid Tettigonia cantans to test these models by measuring female responsiveness on a walking compensator to stimuli varying in temporal pattern. Each model predicts secondary responses to certain stimuli other than the standard conspecific pulse rate. Females responded strongly to stimuli with a pulse-rate equal to half the standard rate, but not to stimuli with double the standard rate. When every second pulse or interval was varied in length, females responded only when the resulting stimuli were rhythmic with respect to the period of the standard signal. These results provide evidence rejecting the use of either high-/low-pass filter networks or autocorrelation mechanisms. We suggest that rate recognition in this species relies on the resonant properties of neurons involved in signal recognition. According to this model, signals with a pulse rate equal to the resonant frequency of the neurons stimulate the female to respond. The results are discussed with regard to both neural and evolutionary implications of resonance as a mechanism for signal recognition.
ISSN:0340-7594
1432-1351
DOI:10.1007/s00359-005-0053-x