Electrosensory Response Mechanisms in Mormyrid Electric Fish 1

Mormyrid electric sh use mormyromast receptors in their skin to detect distortions in a self-generated electric eld. The electroreceptor a erents modulate neuronal activity in the electrosensory lateral line lobe (ELL), a cerebellum-like structure. In this study of the ELL's mormyromast region, computer simulations compare mechanisms responsible for the observed responses involved in active electrolocation with the ampullary region's responses involved in sensing elds of external origin. The simulations are based on a mathematical characterization of the relevant anatomy, physiology, and rules of synaptic plasticity that in uence neuronal activity in the ELL, as determined by experimental studies.