Summary
-
1.
Cockroaches with their left cercus ablated were tested for their turning responses to wind stimuli.
-
2.
One day after the ablation, adult and nymphal cockroaches responded abnormally to wind from the left, making a high proportion of turns to the left (Figs. 3B, 4B).
-
3.
Thirty days after ablation, the turning responses were partially corrected. The recovered responses of nymphal cockroaches were more correct than those of adults (Figs. 3C, 4C, 5).
-
4.
Non-cercal receptors did not appear to contribute to the recovery. Rather, receptors on the intact cercus appeared to be the sole providers of the directional information.
-
5.
Environmental conditions during the recovery period can affect the extent of behavioral recovery (Fig. 7).
-
6.
Learning through trial and error during a testing session does not contribute to the correctness of the turns (Fig. 8).
-
7.
Similarities between the recovery in the escape system of the cockroach and behavioral recovery in higher vertebrates are discussed. Also discussed are some general mechanisms that could account for recovery in the cockroach.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- GI :
-
giant interneuron
References
Camhi JM, Nolen TG (1981) Properties of the escape system of cockroaches during walking. J Comp Physiol 142:339–346
Camhi JM, Tom W (1978) The escape behavior of the cockroachPeriplaneta americana. I. Turning responses to wind puffs. J Comp Physiol 128:193–201
Camhi JM, Tom W, Volman S (1978) The escape behavior of the cockroachPeriplaneta americana. II. Detection of natural predators by air displacement. J Comp Physiol 128:203–212
Dagan D, Camhi JM (1979) Responses to wind recorded from the cercal nerve of the cockroachPeriplaneta americana. II. Directional selectivity of the sensory neurons innervating single columns of filiform hairs. J Comp Physiol 133:103–110
Eidelberg E, Stein DG (1974) Functional recovery after lesions of the nervous system. Neurosci Res Prog Bull 12:191
Essen D Van, Jansen JKS (1977) The specificity of reinnervation by identified sensory and motor neurons in the leech. J Comp Neurol 171:433–454
Kandel ER (1976) Cellular basis of behavior: An introduction to behavioral neurobiology. Freeman, San Francisco
Koopowitz H, Silver D, Rose G (1975) Neuronal plasticity and recovery of function in a polyclad flatworm. Nature 256:737–738
Kristan WB (1979) Neuronal changes related to behavioral changes in chronically isolated segments of the medicinal leech. Brain Res 167:215–220
Kristan WB, Guthrie PB (1977) Acquisition of swimming behavior in chronically isolated single segments of the leech. Brain Res 131:191–195
Luco JV, Aranda LC (1964) An electrical correlate to the process of learning. Experiments inBlatta orientalis. Nature 201:1330–1331
Martin H (1965) Osmotropotaxis in the honey-bee. Nature 208:59–63
Matsumoto DG, Murphey RK (1977) Sensory deprivation during development decreases the responsiveness of cricket giant interneurons. J Physiol 268:533–548
Nicholls JG, Van Essen D (1974) The nervous system of the leech. Sci Am 2305:38–48
Nicklaus R (1965) Die Erregung einzelner Fadenhaare vonPeriplaneta americana in Abhängigkeit von der Größe und Richtung der Auslenkung. Z Vergl Physiol 50:331–362
Nottebohm F (1972) Neural lateralization of vocal control in a passerine bird. II. Subsongs, calls and a theory of vocal learning. J Exp Zool 179:35–49
Nottebohm F, Manning E, Nottebohm ME (1979) Reversal of hypoglossal dominance in canaries following unilateral syringeal denervation. J Comp Physiol 134:227–240
O'Farrell AF, Stock A (1958) Some aspects of regeneration in cockroaches. Proc Tenth Int Congr Entomol 2:253–259
Pettit JM, Noll JD (1979) Cerebral dominance in aphasia recovery. Brain Language 7:191–200
Rust MK, Burk T, Bell WJ (1976) Pheromone stimulated locomotory and orientation response in the American cockroach. Anim Behav 24:52–67
Sperry RW (1944) Optic nerve regeneration with return of vision in anurans. J Neurophysiol 7:57–69
Stone LS (1950a) Development of normal and reversed vision in transplated eyes. Acta XVI Concilium Opthal (Br), 16:644–648
Stone LS (1950b) Neural retina degeneration followed by regeneration from surviving retinal pigment cells in grafted adult salamander eyes. Anat Rec 106:89–110
Vardi N, Camhi JM (1982) Functional Recovery from lesions in the escape system of the cockroach. II. Physiological recovery of the giant interneurons. J Comp Physiol 146:299–309
Wilson DM (1966) Insect walking. Ann Rev Entomol 11:103–122
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vardi, N., Camhi, J.M. Functional recovery from lesions in the escape system of the cockroach. J. Comp. Physiol. 146, 291–298 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00612700
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00612700