Optical measurement of action potential activity in invertebrate ganglia.
Optical monitoring methods have reached the level of development where activity from a network of cells can be recorded in a minimally-dissected behaving animal. The spike activity in the buccal ganglion of Navanax was monitored during feeding and activity in the Aplysia abdominal ganglion was monitored during the gill-withdrawal reflex. Approximately 30 neurons in the Navanax buccal ganglion were active during feeding and between 250 and 400 neurons in the Aplysia abdominal ganglion were active during the gill-withdrawal reflex. A reasonably complete understanding of the neuronal basis of the gill withdrawal may not be possible with presently available scientific methods. Substantial improvements in signal-to-noise ratio in optical measurements will be necessary before the majority of synaptic potentials can be detected optically. Understanding circuits that involve more than a few neurons will be a challenge to neurobiologists.
Cohen
L
L
Department of Physiology, Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
Höpp
H P
HP
Wu
J Y
JY
Xiao
C
C
London
J
J
D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D005724:Ganglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D055095:Optics and Photonics
D004396:Coloring Agents