Sensory Specializations of Mormyrid Fish Are Associated with Species Differences in Electric Signal Localization Behavior

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 125-141
Author(s):  
Alejandro Vélez ◽  
Da Yeon Ryoo ◽  
Bruce A. Carlson
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
The Body ◽  
Electric Signal ◽  
Evolutionary Divergence ◽  
Communication Signals ◽  
Visual Systems ◽  
Mormyrid Fish ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Localization Behavior

The ability to localize communication signals plays a fundamental role in social interactions. For signal localization to take place, the sensory system of the receiver must extract information about distance and direction to the sender from physical characteristics of the signal. In many sensory systems, information from multiple peripheral receptors must be integrated by central sensory pathways to determine the sender location. Here, we asked whether evolutionary divergence in the electrosensory and visual systems of mormyrid fish is associated with signal localization behavior. In mormyrids, differences in the distribution of electroreceptors on the surface of the skin are associated with differences in the midbrain exterolateral nucleus (EL). Species with electroreceptors clustered in three rosettes on both sides of the head have a small and undifferentiated EL. In contrast, EL is enlarged and subdivided into anterior (ELa) and posterior (ELp) regions in species that have electroreceptors broadly ­distributed throughout the body. Interestingly, species with EL and clustered electroreceptors also have larger visual systems and higher visual acuity than species with ELa/ELp and broadly distributed electroreceptors. Species with broadly distributed electroreceptors and ELa/ELp approached a simulated conspecific by following the curved electric field lines generated by the electrosensory stimulus. In contrast, a species with small EL and clustered electroreceptors, but an enlarged visual system, followed shorter and straighter paths to the stimulus source. In the central electrosensory system, evoked field potentials in response to stimuli delivered from the left versus the right differed more in EL than in ELa/ELp. Our results suggest that signal localization behavior is associated with differences in sensory specializations. We propose that the distribution of electroreceptors on the body affects the ability of individuals to align parallel to electric field lines and maintain such alignment while approaching the signal source. The spatial resolution of sensory information relayed from the periphery to the midbrain in species with clustered electroreceptors may allow for gross, but not fine, processing of sender location. Furthermore, visual information may play an important role in localizing signaling individuals in species with small EL and clustered electroreceptors. In line with previous studies, we suggest that the physiological and behavioral differences associated with signal localization reflect adaptations to different habitats and social environments.

scholarly journals Electrocommunication in pulse Gymnotiformes: the role of electric organ discharge (EOD) time course in species identification

2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (16) ◽  
pp. jeb226340
Author(s):  
Joseph C. Waddell ◽  
Angel A. Caputi
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Electric Organ Discharge ◽  
Animal Communication ◽  
Electric Organ ◽  
Species Differentiation ◽  
Communication Signals ◽  
Signal Features ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
Species Specific

ABSTRACTUnderstanding how individuals detect and recognize signals emitted by conspecifics is fundamental to discussions of animal communication. The species pair Gymnotus omarorum and Brachyhypopomus gauderio, found in syntopy in Uruguay, emit species-specific electric organ discharge (EOD) that can be sensed by both species. The aim of this study was to unveil whether either of these species is able to identify a conspecific EOD, and to investigate distinctive recognition signal features. We designed a forced-choice experiment using a natural behavior (i.e. tracking electric field lines towards their source) in which each fish had to choose between a conspecific and a heterospecific electric field. We found a clear pattern of preference for a conspecific waveform even when pulses were played within 1 Hz of the same rate. By manipulating the time course of the explored signals, we found that the signal features for preference between conspecific and heterospecific waveforms were embedded in the time course of the signals. This study provides evidence that pulse Gymnotiformes can recognize a conspecific exclusively through species-specific electrosensory signals. It also suggests that the key signal features for species differentiation are probably encoded by burst coder electroreceptors. Given these results, and because receptors are sharply tuned to amplitude spectra and also tuned to phase spectra, we extend the electric color hypothesis used in the evaluation of objects to apply to communication signals.

scholarly journals Sea urchin larvae utilize light for regulating the pyloric opening

BMC Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junko Yaguchi ◽  
Shunsuke Yaguchi
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Digestive Tract ◽  
Sea Urchin ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Animal Evolution ◽  
Deuterostome Evolution ◽  
Visual Systems

Abstract Background Light is essential for various biological activities. In particular, visual information through eyes or eyespots is very important for most of animals, and thus, the functions and developmental mechanisms of visual systems have been well studied to date. In addition, light-dependent non-visual systems expressing photoreceptor Opsins have been used to study the effects of light on diverse animal behaviors. However, it remains unclear how light-dependent systems were acquired and diversified during deuterostome evolution due to an almost complete lack of knowledge on the light-response signaling pathway in Ambulacraria, one of the major groups of deuterostomes and a sister group of chordates. Results Here, we show that sea urchin larvae utilize light for digestive tract activity. We found that photoirradiation of larvae induces pyloric opening even without addition of food stimuli. Micro-surgical and knockdown experiments revealed that this stimulating light is received and mediated by Go(/RGR)-Opsin (Opsin3.2 in sea urchin genomes) cells around the anterior neuroectoderm. Furthermore, we found that the anterior neuroectodermal serotoninergic neurons near Go-Opsin-expressing cells are essential for mediating light stimuli-induced nitric oxide (NO) release at the pylorus. Our results demonstrate that the light>Go-Opsin>serotonin>NO pathway functions in pyloric opening during larval stages. Conclusions The results shown here will lead us to understand how light-dependent systems of pyloric opening functioning via neurotransmitters were acquired and established during animal evolution. Based on the similarity of nervous system patterns and the gut proportions among Ambulacraria, we suggest the light>pyloric opening pathway may be conserved in the clade, although the light signaling pathway has so far not been reported in other members of the group. In light of brain-gut interactions previously found in vertebrates, we speculate that one primitive function of anterior neuroectodermal neurons (brain neurons) may have been to regulate the function of the digestive tract in the common ancestor of deuterostomes. Given that food consumption and nutrient absorption are essential for animals, the acquirement and development of brain-based sophisticated gut regulatory system might have been important for deuterostome evolution.

scholarly journals Electrochemotherapy Effectiveness Loss due to Electric Field Indentation between Needle Electrodes: A Numerical Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Alvim Berkenbrock ◽  
Rafaela Grecco Machado ◽  
Daniela Ota Hisayasu Suzuki
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Treatment Effectiveness ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Specific Treatment ◽  
The Body ◽  
Membrane Selectivity ◽  
Chemotherapy Drugs ◽  
Mast Cell Tumor ◽  
Anticancer Treatment

Electrochemotherapy is an anticancer treatment based on applying electric field pulses that reduce cell membrane selectivity, allowing chemotherapy drugs to enter the cells. In parallel to electrochemotherapy clinical tests, in silico experiments have helped scientists and clinicians to understand the electric field distribution through anatomically complex regions of the body. In particular, these in silico experiments allow clinicians to predict problems that may arise in treatment effectiveness. The current work presents a metastatic case of a mast cell tumor in a dog. In this specific treatment planning study, we show that using needle electrodes has a possible pitfall. The macroscopic consequence of the electroporation was assessed through a mathematical model of tissue electrical conductivity. Considering the electrical and geometrical characteristics of the case under study, we modeled an ellipsoidal tumor. Initial simulations were based on the European Standard Operating Procedures for electrochemotherapy suggestions, and then different electrodes’ arrangements were evaluated. To avoid blind spots, multiple applications are usually required for large tumors, demanding electrode repositioning. An effective treatment electroporates all the tumor cells. Partially and slightly overlapping the areas increases the session’s duration but also likely increases the treatment’s effectiveness. It is worth noting that for a single application, the needles should not be placed close to the tumor’s borders because effectiveness is highly likely to be lost.

scholarly journals RF-Carpets that Compress Ions to High Density Beams

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (S4) ◽  
pp. 84-89
Author(s):  
H. Wollnik ◽  
F. Arai ◽  
Y. Ito ◽  
P. Schury ◽  
M. Wada
Keyword(s):  
Phase Space ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Ion Beams ◽  
High Density ◽  
Ion Density ◽  
Field Lines

AbstractIons that are moved by electric fields in gases follow quite exactly the electric field lines since these ions have substantially lost their kinetic energies in collisions with gas atoms or molecules and so carry no momenta. Shaping the electric fields appropriately the phase space such ion beams occupy can be reduced and correspondingly the ion density of beams be increased.

scholarly journals Mapping of steady-state electric fields and convective drifts in geomagnetic fields – Part 1: Elementary models

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. M. Walker ◽  
G. J. Sofko
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Magnetic Field Line ◽  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
Geomagnetic Field Models ◽  
Spatial Derivatives ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
The Magnetic Field

Abstract. When studying magnetospheric convection, it is often necessary to map the steady-state electric field, measured at some point on a magnetic field line, to a magnetically conjugate point in the other hemisphere, or the equatorial plane, or at the position of a satellite. Such mapping is relatively easy in a dipole field although the appropriate formulae are not easily accessible. They are derived and reviewed here with some examples. It is not possible to derive such formulae in more realistic geomagnetic field models. A new method is described in this paper for accurate mapping of electric fields along field lines, which can be used for any field model in which the magnetic field and its spatial derivatives can be computed. From the spatial derivatives of the magnetic field three first order differential equations are derived for the components of the normalized element of separation of two closely spaced field lines. These can be integrated along with the magnetic field tracing equations and Faraday's law used to obtain the electric field as a function of distance measured along the magnetic field line. The method is tested in a simple model consisting of a dipole field plus a magnetotail model. The method is shown to be accurate, convenient, and suitable for use with more realistic geomagnetic field models.

scholarly journals A Look into Students' Interpretation of Electric Field Lines

2017 ◽  
pp. 342-364
Author(s):  
Esmeralda Campos ◽  
Genaro Zavala
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Random Sample ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Undergraduate Level ◽  
Field Lines

On Electricity & Magnetism (EM) courses at undergraduate level, the concept of electric field poses one of the most relevant and basic topics, along with the concept of magnetic field. Professors and students may use different diagrams as a tool to visualize the electric field, such as vectors or electric field lines. The present study aims to identify how students interpret and use electric field lines as a tool or resource to describe the electric field. Two versions of a test with open-ended questions were administered in Spanish in a private Mexican university to a random sample of students taking the EM course, and were analyzed with a qualitative approach. It was found that students do not interpret electric field lines diagrams correctly, which may lead to misconceptions. Many students based their answers on the concepts of superposition, force and repulsion.

scholarly journals Organization of the Drosophila larval visual circuit

eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Larderet ◽  
Pauline MJ Fritsch ◽  
Nanae Gendre ◽  
G Larisa Neagu-Maier ◽  
Richard D Fetter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Visual Processing ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Neural Circuit ◽  
Visual Features ◽  
Environmental Cues ◽  
Wiring Diagram ◽  
Visual Systems ◽  
Drosophila Larvae ◽  
Organizational Principles ◽  
Numerical Complexity

Visual systems transduce, process and transmit light-dependent environmental cues. Computation of visual features depends on photoreceptor neuron types (PR) present, organization of the eye and wiring of the underlying neural circuit. Here, we describe the circuit architecture of the visual system of Drosophila larvae by mapping the synaptic wiring diagram and neurotransmitters. By contacting different targets, the two larval PR-subtypes create two converging pathways potentially underlying the computation of ambient light intensity and temporal light changes already within this first visual processing center. Locally processed visual information then signals via dedicated projection interneurons to higher brain areas including the lateral horn and mushroom body. The stratified structure of the larval optic neuropil (LON) suggests common organizational principles with the adult fly and vertebrate visual systems. The complete synaptic wiring diagram of the LON paves the way to understanding how circuits with reduced numerical complexity control wide ranges of behaviors.

Mapping of induced polarization using natural fields

Geophysics ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Gasperikova ◽  
H. Frank Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Surrounding Medium ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Induced Polarization ◽  
The Body ◽  
Electromagnetic Response ◽  
Frequency Dependent ◽  
Finite Body ◽  
Electric Field Profile ◽  
Measured Response

The observed electromagnetic response of a finite body is caused by induction and polarization currents in the body and by the distortion of the induction currents in the surrounding medium. At a sufficiently low frequency, there is negligible induction and the measured response is that of the body distorting the background currents just as it would distort a direct current (dc). Because this dc response is not inherently frequency dependent, any observed change in response of the body for frequencies low enough to be in this dc limit must result from frequency‐dependent conductivity. Profiles of low‐frequency natural electric (telluric) fields have spatial anomalies over finite bodies of fixed conductivity that are independent of frequency and have no associated phase anomaly. If the body is polarizable, the electric field profile over the body becomes frequency dependent and phase shifted with respect to a reference field. The technique was tested on data acquired in a standard continuous profiling magnetotelluric (MT) survey over a strong induced polarization (IP) anomaly previously mapped with a conventional pole‐dipole IP survey. The extracted IP response appears in both the apparent resistivity and the normalized electric field profiles.

General Relations between Fields and Sources

2019 ◽  
pp. 63-84
Author(s):  
Richard Freeman ◽  
James King ◽  
Gregory Lafyatis
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Spatial Variations ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Retarded Time ◽  
Finite Speed ◽  
Radiation Fields ◽  
Source Current ◽  
Field Lines ◽  
General Relations ◽  
Relationship Of

The general relationship of changes in source current, charge and/or position and the fields that they produce are examined in the context of the development of equations that are known as “Jefimenko’s Equations.” These expressions give the fields at a point removed from the source in terms of the charge and current distributions evaluated at the “retarded time.” In this development, the finite speed of light is shown to connect the time rate of change in source conditions to the spatial variations of the potential at the field point. Using a graphical argument, the transverse nature of radiation fields is demonstrated based on electric field lines as envisioned by Faraday.

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