Habituation of the ultrasound-induced acoustic startle response in flying crickets.
The ultrasound-induced negative phonotactic response of tethered, flying Australian field crickets habituates to repeated stimuli. Using the magnitude of the metathoracic leg's swing during a series of ultrasonic stimuli as a measure of habituation, we show that: (1) the response declines exponentially; (2) the response recovers spontaneously; (3) repeated trials produce more rapid and stronger habituation; (4) successive stimuli presented more rapidly produce more rapid and stronger habituation; (5) a weaker stimulus intensity produces more rapid and stronger habituation; (6) the habituation shows stimulus generalization (i.e. the response is similar for different ultrasonic frequencies); (7) a novel stimulus produces dishabituation; and (8) the effect of the dishabituating stimulus habituates after repeated trials. These findings place habituation of cricket negative phonotaxis in the context described for habituation in mammals.
Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
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D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D005260:Female; D006135:Gryllidae / Q000502:physiology*; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000502:physiology; D014465:Ultrasonics