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Journal of Experimental Biology 107,385-390 (1983)
Published by Company of Biologists 1983

Proprioceptive Reflexes Change when an Insect Assumes an Active, Learned Posture

SASHA N. ZILL 1 and ROBIN R. FORMAN 2

1 Department of Anatomy, University of Colorado Medical School Present address:Denver, Colorado 80262, U.S.A.
2 Department of Biology, University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon 97403, U.S.A.

Imposed changes in activity of a joint angle receptor of the locust leg, the metathoracic femoral chordotonal organ, produce variable, phasic reflex responses in a leg extensor motoneurone in untrained animals. After training the locust to maintain a posture in extension beyond a minimum required joint angle, these reflexes are consistently tonic and excitatory. This plasticity of reflex responsiveness permits the locust to couple motoneurone firing to afferent activity when receptor input is behaviourally relevant.

Key words: Reflexes, learning, plasticity

Submitted on February 16, 1983
Accepted on June 10, 1983






© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1983