Neural factors and evitability in insect behavior

The Journal of Experimental Zoology
K D Roeder

Abstract

Compared with more complex behavior patterns involving goal selection, evasive behavior of prey animals elicited by the presence of a natural predator is usually considered to be relatively inevitable and stereotyped. Noctuid moths, while flying in the field at night, show two types of evasive response pattern when their tympanic organs detect the ultrasonic cries of marauding insectivorous bats. Since sound is the sole communication channel between prey and predator, this situation invites neurophysiological and behavioral analysis. When, in the course of studying this behavior, moths are removed by stages from the natural circumstances of this interaction their evasion responses become much less invariant; that is, more evitable. The possible survival value of some evitability in this behavior under natural circumstances is discussed. The afferent nerve response of the noctuid auditory organ is highly stable; therefore, the source or sources of this evitability must lie down-stream in the moth central nervous system. Acoustic interneuronal systems within the thoracic ganglia and the brain have been examined for lapses in responsiveness and for other indications of transsynaptic instability that might correlate with the demons...Continue Reading

References

Nov 1, 1974·Journal of Insect Physiology·D H Paul
Aug 1, 1973·Journal of Insect Physiology·K D Roeder
Sep 1, 1973·Journal of Insect Physiology·D H Paul
Jul 14, 1972·Science·W J Davis, J L Ayers
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May 1, 1969·Journal of Insect Physiology·K D Roeder
Feb 1, 1957·The Journal of Experimental Zoology·K D ROEDER, A E TREAT
Jun 6, 1931·The Journal of Physiology·E D Adrian

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Citations

Jan 1, 1989·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·F Coro, N Alonso
May 12, 2005·Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology·James H FullardCassandra Guignion
Sep 1, 1975·Journal of Insect Physiology·K D Roeder
May 1, 1982·Behavioral and Neural Biology·F E McManusE J Wyers
Jul 24, 2004·Journal of Evolutionary Biology·J H FullardA R Soutar
Mar 27, 2002·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Derek A RoffDaphne J Fairbairn
Jul 1, 1980·Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior·A C Catania, T Sagvolden

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