Modeling signal and background components of electrosensory scenes

Chen, Ling; House, Jonathan L; Krahe, Rüdiger; Nelson, Mark

doi:10.1007/s00359-004-0587-3

Cited by 127 publications

(166 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…4C) delivered in the context of the same natural interval patterns. These transients are comparable with or larger than EOD modulations caused by invertebrate prey (Nelson and MacIver, 1999;Chen et al, 2005). When EOD intervals are approximately constant, decreases in latency induced by the transient stimulus are clearly visible (Fig.…”

Section: Compare B-d)mentioning

confidence: 57%

“…4 A). LEOD amplitude modulations in a swimming fish would also be characterized by correlations on multiple timescales, resulting from movement of the fish, boundary conditions, and foreground objects (Chen et al, 2005). Our next series of experiments were aimed at gaining some initial insight into how natural patterns of sensing behavior and correlated EOD amplitude modulations affect afferent encoding.…”

Section: Electroreceptor Afferent Encoding In the Context Of Natural mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Sensing Behavior on a Latency Code

Sawtell¹,

Williams²,

Roberts³

et al. 2006

J. Neurosci.

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Sensory information is often acquired through active exploration, yet relatively little is known about how neurons encode sensory stimuli in the context of natural patterns of sensing behavior. We examined the effects of sensing behavior on a spike latency code in the active electrosensory system of mormyrid fish. These fish actively probe their environment by emitting brief electric organ discharge (EOD) pulses. Nearby objects alter the spatial pattern of current flowing through the skin. These changes are encoded by small shifts in the latency of individual electroreceptor afferent spikes after the EOD. In nature, the temporal pattern of EOD intervals is highly structured and varies depending on the behavioral context. We performed experiments in which we varied both the EOD amplitude and the intervals between EODs to understand how sensing behavior affects afferent latency coding. We use white-noise stimuli and linear filter estimation methods to develop simple models characterizing the dependence of afferent spike latency on the preceding sequence of EOD intervals and amplitudes. Comparing the predictions of these models with actual afferent responses for natural patterns of EOD intervals and amplitudes reveals an unexpectedly rich interplay between sensing behavior and stimulus encoding. Implications of our results for how afferent spike latency is decoded at central stages of electrosensory processing are discussed.

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Section: Compare B-d)mentioning

confidence: 57%

Section: Electroreceptor Afferent Encoding In the Context Of Natural mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Sensing Behavior on a Latency Code

Sawtell¹,

Williams²,

Roberts³

et al. 2006

J. Neurosci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In this case, the instantaneous EOD rate can be determined by skipping every other EOD time markers to ignore the negative EOD phase. WEF can detect the recording electrodes when they swim nearby; thus we avoided using large or metallic electrodes which can be sensed from farther away 37 , and instead used thin graphite electrodes (2 mm diameter). Thinner coaxial cables (RG-174) were used with the electrode assemblies for flexibility; but thicker coaxial cables (RG-54) were used for wiring over extended distances for superior electrical shielding.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish

Jun

Longtin

Maler

2014

JoVE

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Long-term behavioral tracking can capture and quantify natural animal behaviors, including those occurring infrequently. Behaviors such as exploration and social interactions can be best studied by observing unrestrained, freely behaving animals. Weakly electric fish (WEF) display readily observable exploratory and social behaviors by emitting electric organ discharge (EOD). Here, we describe three effective techniques to synchronously measure the EOD, body position, and posture of a free-swimming WEF for an extended period of time. First, we describe the construction of an experimental tank inside of an isolation chamber designed to block external sources of sensory stimuli such as light, sound, and vibration. The aquarium was partitioned to accommodate four test specimens, and automated gates remotely control the animals' access to the central arena. Second, we describe a precise and reliable real-time EOD timing measurement method from freely swimming WEF. Signal distortions caused by the animal's body movements are corrected by spatial averaging and temporal processing stages. Third, we describe an underwater near-infrared imaging setup to observe unperturbed nocturnal animal behaviors. Infrared light pulses were used to synchronize the timing between the video and the physiological signal over a long recording duration. Our automated tracking software measures the animal's body position and posture reliably in an aquatic scene. In combination, these techniques enable long term observation of spontaneous behavior of freely swimming weakly electric fish in a reliable and precise manner. We believe our method can be similarly applied to the study of other aquatic animals by relating their physiological signals with exploratory or social behaviors. Video LinkThe video component of this article can be found at

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“…During this behavior, fish stay stationary next to an object while the tail and trunk are bent towards the object. As a consequence, the EI is subject to large (predictive) distortions influencing both intensity and contrast (Bacher, 1983;Caputi, 2004;Chen et al, 2005;Engelmann et al, 2008;Heiligenberg, 1975;von der Emde et al, 2008). The analysis of these distortions over time could be used to determine the lateral distance to an object (Sim and Kim, 2011).…”

Section: Sensorimotor Patterns In Electrolocation Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensory flow shaped by active sensing: sensorimotor strategies in electric fish

Hofmann

Sanguinetti-Scheck

Künzel

et al. 2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SummaryGoal-directed behavior in most cases is composed of a sequential order of elementary motor patterns shaped by sensorimotor contingencies. The sensory information acquired thus is structured in both space and time. Here we review the role of motion during the generation of sensory flow focusing on how animals actively shape information by behavioral strategies. We use the well-studied examples of vision in insects and echolocation in bats to describe commonalities of sensory-related behavioral strategies across sensory systems, and evaluate what is currently known about comparable active sensing strategies in electroreception of electric fish. In this sensory system the sensors are dispersed across the animalʼs body and the carrier source emitting energy used for sensing, the electric organ, is moved while the animal moves. Thus ego-motions strongly influence sensory dynamics. We present, for the first time, data of electric flow during natural probing behavior in Gnathonemus petersii (Mormyridae), which provide evidence for this influence. These data reveal a complex interdependency between the physical input to the receptors and the animalʼs movements, posture and objects in its environment. Although research on spatiotemporal dynamics in electrolocation is still in its infancy, the emerging field of dynamical sensory systems analysis in electric fish is a promising approach to the study of the link between movement and acquisition of sensory information.

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Modeling signal and background components of electrosensory scenes

Cited by 127 publications

References 33 publications

Effects of Sensing Behavior on a Latency Code

Effects of Sensing Behavior on a Latency Code

Long-term Behavioral Tracking of Freely Swimming Weakly Electric Fish

Sensory flow shaped by active sensing: sensorimotor strategies in electric fish

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