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Unidirectional Response to Angular Acceleration recorded from the Middle Cristal Nerve in the Statocyst of Octopus vulgaris

Nature volume 197, pages 815–816 (1963)Cite this article

Abstract

YOUNG1 suggests that the three orthogonally arranged sections of the crista of the statocyst of Octopus vulgaris could function as detectors of angular acceleration in a manner similar to the semicircular canals of vertebrates. He also suggests that the macula could provide continuous information about the position of the head. That the statocyst in cephalopods indeed participates in the control of equilibrium and posture has been shown behaviourally2,3. Now we have recorded from the middle cristal nerve of the statocyst the activity of single units of the longitudinal crista that respond unidirectionally to angular acceleration.

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References

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cátedra de Biología, Escuela de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago

    HUMBERTO R. MATURANA

  2. Department of Zoology, University of California, Los Angeles

    SUZANNE SPERLING

Authors
  1. HUMBERTO R. MATURANA
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  2. SUZANNE SPERLING
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MATURANA, H., SPERLING, S. Unidirectional Response to Angular Acceleration recorded from the Middle Cristal Nerve in the Statocyst of Octopus vulgaris. Nature 197, 815–816 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1038/197815b0

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