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Journal of Experimental Biology 133,137-156 (1987)
Published by Company of Biologists 1987

Sensory Feedback During Active Movements of Stick Insects

G. WEILAND ¹ and U. T. KOCH ¹

¹ Fachbereich Biologie der Universität D-6750 Kaiserslautern, FRG

In the stick insect Carausius momsus, the role of the chordotonal organ was investigated using a new experimental arrangement which artificially closes the femur-tibia control system. The chordotonal organ was stimulated during voluntary movements by applying trapezoidal ramp stimuli in the closed-loop configuration.

The results demonstrate that the feedback loop is used to control the end points of joint movement. In addition, it was found that the control system counteracts experimentally applied velocity changes imposed during the middle part of the movements. Acceleration-sensitive units are shown to contribute to the reaction.

The results show that during active voluntary movements reflexes measured in the inactive animal are neither simply incorporated in a servo-system nor suppressed. Instead their characteristics are altered so that the voluntary movements are executed as intended by the animal. Thus reflexes cannot be considered as a fixed behavioural unit; rather their changing role must be analysed in the context of the behaviour studied.

Key words: stick insect, sensory feedback, active movements, velocity control, position control, servo-mechanism

Accepted on June 15, 1987