Intersensory interactions in Hermissenda.
Hair cells of the Hermissenda statocyst respond to photic stimulation. This response requires the presence of at least one of the two eyes. Two principal hair cell responses to light were observed. The activity of photoreceptors in response to a light step is interrupted during firing of contralateral hair cells. The intersensory interactions between the statocyst and visual pathway underlying these responses were examined with simultaneous intracellular recordings. Evidence is presented that the statocyst of Hermissenda is an important channel for visual information.
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D008974:Mollusca / Q000502:physiology*; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception