Efferent optic nerve impulses in response to illumination of single eyes of orb weaving spiders.
Efferent impulses in the optic nerves of the orb weaving spiders Argiope amoena and A. bruennichii in response to illumination of single eyes were examined. When light stimulation was given to the anterior median (AM) eye, the frequency of efferent optic nerve impulses increased transiently only after the offset of illumination. In contrast, when the light was given to the anterior lateral (AL), posterior median (PM) or posterior lateral (PL) eye, the frequency of efferent impulses increased transiently both after the onset and after the offset of illumination. It is suggested that the impulse generation after the onset of illumination is caused by a gradual decrease in magnitude of depolarizing photoreceptor potentials in the AL, PL and PM eyes.
Yamashita
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S
Biological Laboratory, Kyushu Institute of Design, Fukuoka, Japan.
D000818:Animals; D003623:Dark Adaptation; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D008027:Light; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology; D013112:Spiders; D015349:Vision, Monocular / Q000502:physiology*