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Journal of Experimental Biology 45,101-111 (1966)
Published by Company of Biologists 1966

The Photopositive Response of the Frog(Rana Pipiens) Under Photopic and Scotopic Conditions

W. R. A. MUNTZ ¹

¹ University of Sussex

1. It has been suggested that the spectral characteristics of the frog's photopositive response are determined by a synergistic action of the green rods and the cones, opposed by an inhibititory effect from the red rods. If this is the case, dark-adaptation should markedly affect the form of the spectral response curves, and also make the animals less strongly photopositive, since it will accentuate the contribution of the inhibitory receptor.

2. These predictions were tested with Rana pipiens, and both were confirmed. By making appropriate assumptions it was possible to generate theoretical curves from the hypothesis, which agree in detail with the experimental results.

Note:

It is not clear whether the response of the frog to light should be called positive phototropism, or positive phototaxis (see Boycott et al. 1964). The term positive will be used here in order to avoid this problem.

This work forms part of a project on Stimulus Analysis Mechanisms, jointly financed by the American Office of Naval Research (Contract No. N 62558-2453) and the Nuffield Foundation. Support was also received from Grant No. MH-11251-01 from the U.S. Public Health Service. I am also very grateful to W. MacDougal for help in running the animals during the early stages of the experiment.

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