A mechanism for neuronal coincidence revealed in the crayfish antennule

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0804385105
• Publication Date: 2008-09-16T01:39:29Z
• Authors: DeForest Mellon; Kate Christison-L...
• Keywords: Escape response; Procambarus clarkii

Startle reflexes employ specialized neuronal circuits and synaptic features for rapid transmission of information from sense organs to responding muscles. Successful excitation these pathways requires the coincidence sensory input at central contacts with giant fiber targets. Here we describe a pathway feature in crayfish tailflip reflex: A position-dependent linear gradation axonal conduction velocities that can ensure coincident arrival impulses near-field hydrodynamic sensilla along antennules their nervous elements drive startle behavior. This provides previously unexplored mechanism optimum responses sudden threatening stimuli. Preliminary findings indicate axons supplying distally located increase diameters least ten-fold antennular flagella raise possibility more modest, graduated, diameter changes originating progressively proximal antennule underlie observed modifications velocity.