Sensory adaptation: extracellular recording from locust wing hinge stretch receptor.
Good student laboratory exercises that do not require much manipulative or technical expertise of the student and that have minor equipment demands are hard to find. One experiment that has these desirable characteristics is the description of adaptation of the firing frequency of the locust forewing stretch receptor after elevation of the wing. Unambiguous recordings of the activity of the stretch receptor can be made using a simple monopolar hook electrode inserted into the thoracic cavity of a decapitated locust. Elevation movements of the forewing are simple to perform and measure. The response of the stretch receptor as a function of time and the stimulus history is monitored. Within a relatively short time it is possible to collect enough data to characterize thoroughly the adequate stimulus of a single sensory neuron. There is considerable scope for student innovation, and several important concepts of sensory physiology can be discussed.
Robertson
R M
RM
Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000502:physiology*; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000502:physiology*; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000502:physiology*