Visual and Acoustic Course Control in the Cricket Gryllus Bimaculatus

Abstract

T he influence of visual and acoustic stimuli on course control was studied in crickets walking on an air-supported sphere under open-loop conditions. The speed of walking elicited by a calling song was greater in the presence of visual targets than it was in the dark. The precision of phonotactic orientation was improved in the presence of visual cues. Visual and acoustic stimuli induced turning and when both stimuli were present at the same time their effects were additive. A further enhancement was observed when visual and acoustic stimuli were presented from the same direction. Optomotor stimuli also shifted the response to the calling song in an additive way.