Reflex activation of locust flight motoneurones by proprioceptors responsive to muscle contractions |
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Authors: | P A Stevenson |
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Institution: | Institut für Zoologie, Universit?t Leipzig,Talstr. 33, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany, DE
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Abstract: | This report investigates the reflex activation of locust flight motoneurones following their spiking activity. As shown elsewhere,
an electrical stimulus applied to a flight muscle produces multiple waves of delayed excitation in wing elevator and depressor
motoneurones. Nerve ablation experiments show that this response is initiated by the mechanical movement of the stimulated
muscle, and not the antidromic spike evoked in the motoneurone. The delayed excitation still occurs in the absence of inputs
from the wing receptor systems, and also when all other sources of afferent feedback are abolished, excepting thoracic nerve
2. Following complete deafferentation, spikes in flight motoneurones had no influence on other flight motoneurones. Numerous
afferents in the purely sensory nerve 2 are excited by flight muscle contractions. The responses are consistent for repeated
contractions of the same muscle, but differ when other muscles are stimulated. During tethered flight, changes in the activation
of single flight muscles are reflected in changes of the nerve 2 discharge pattern. Electrical stimulation of this nerve causes
delayed excitation of flight motoneurones, and can initiate flight activity. It is suggested that internal proprioceptors,
such as those associated with nerve 2, will contribute to shaping the final motor output for flight behaviour.
Accepted: 24 April 1996 |
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Keywords: | Afferent control Chordotonal organs Insect flight Locomotion Motor patterns |
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