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The jamming avoidance response of high frequency electric fish

II. Quantitative aspects

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Summary

  1. 1.

    Using a frequency difference (ΔF) clamp to maintain a stimulus and frustrate the normal escape from a jamming frequency, the response is found to be a characteristic function of the δF between stimulus and fish (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 6). It is graded on both sides of a best ΔF of about 3 Hz (=0.3% inSternarchus, 1.0% inEigenmannia). There is no systematic response whenF stimulus =F fish,regardless of phase.

  2. 2.

    The J. A.R. is graded with intensity (voltage gradient) of the stimulus over a range of more than 100-fold; higher intensities cause some reduction (Fig. 5). The threshold for longitudinal stimulation under certain conditions is lower than 0.25 μV (peak to peak)/cm; for transverse stimulation as in most of the present experiments 0.5 μV (peak to peak)/cm.

  3. 3.

    The best ΔF is the same when added to the fundamental of any harmonic (response detectable at least to the fifth) (Fig. 6). Stimulation around a subharmonic does not elicit the J.A. R.

  4. 4.

    A response to a small ΔF, e.g. 0.2 Hz, can begin within < 1/4 cycle of the beat frequency and, without “hunting”, shift in the correct direction.

  5. 5.

    Stimulating with an optimal beat-frequency by amplitude modulation (AM) of a stimulus atF fish, with an AM frequency of 3 Hz, can cause a response though it is confused as to sign. If the stimulus frequency unmodulated is at a ΔF=−20 Hz and therefore almost ineffectual, AM at 17 Hz will cause a response upwards and at 23 Hz downwards (Eigenmannia). These results and the following suggest the fish performs the equivalent of a Fourier analysis and responds to sidebands according to their ΔF.

  6. 6.

    In a 300 HzEigenmannia, if an ineffective stimulus at 280 Hz (ΔF=−20 Hz) is frequency modulated (FM) sinusoidally at 17 Hz between peaks of about 274 and 286 Hz, the fish gives an upwards J.A.R.

  7. 7.

    By curarizingEigenmannia to silence its electric organ we can apply a phase modulated stimulus - a carrier wave whose cycles are systematically phase shifted by a few degrees back and forth at a few Hz. This also causes a response, though only in one direction.

  8. 8.

    If a stimulus is slowly frequency modulated (FM≪ΔF) e.g. between ΔF = + and −6 Hz sinusoidally or triangularly at 10 to 100 sec per cycle, the fish responds and theF fish/ΔF plot traces an hysteresis loop. This is quite well predicted by an analog computer model embodying the best ΔF curve and the time course of response to a ΔF step stimulus (Fig. 7).

    Unclamped behavior is similar (Figs. 9,10) and predictable from the responses to step stimuli in the clamped condition.

  9. 10.

    A block diagram putting the distinguishable properties into sequence is offered (Fig. 11).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosciences of the School of Medicine and Neurobiology Unit of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego

    Theodore H. Bullock, Robert H. Hamstra Jr. & Henning Scheich

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  1. Theodore H. Bullock
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  2. Robert H. Hamstra Jr.
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  3. Henning Scheich
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Additional information

This research was aided by grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Instutite of Neurological Diseases and Stroke and the Office of Naval Research. Prof. A. Schneider of the UCSD Analog Computer Facility kindly provided access to those instruments.

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Bullock, T.H., Hamstra, R.H. & Scheich, H. The jamming avoidance response of high frequency electric fish. J. Comp. Physiol. 77, 23–48 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696518

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