TACTILE INPUT TO THE CRAYFISH TEGUMENTARY NEUROPIL

1. 1. Receptive fields and response characteristics of tegumentary nerves and interneurons in the tegumentary neuropile of the crayfishes Procambarus spiculifer and Orconectes virilis were determined with electrophysiological recording techniques. 2. 2. Tegumentary nerves innervate the anterior third of the cephalothorax in three partially overlapping receptive fields. 3. 3. Receptor neuron responses to controlled stimulation are of one class: a logarithmic increase in stimulus intensity results in a linear increase in output. 4. 4. Receptive fields for 23 interneurons in the tegumentary neuropile cover most of the animal's surface. Four classes of interneuronal responses were identified. 5. 5. Input to the tegumentary neuropile may assist in detecting pertinent mechanical features of the aquatic environment. © 1979.