Mechanoreceptor and Photoreceptor Tonic Integration in the Crayfish

Abstract

The activity of the caudal photoreceptor of crayfish was studied in: (1) intact tail ganglion, (2) partially isolated, and (3) totally isolated ganglion preparations. Statistical analysis of the photoreceptor activity included average frequency, average interval, variance, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, interval histograms, auto-expectation density, and cross-expectation density. Results showed that the average influence of the mechanoreceptor synapses on the photoreceptors during a period of several seconds was inhibitory, strong on the contralateral and weak on the ipsilateral side.