Peripheral input WAS Re: micro mods to neurons

[COLLEEN M. SPECHT]

In article <32617DA1.7061 at ento.uq.edu.au>, Craig Hull <c.hull at ento.uq.edu.au> writes:

[much snipped]

>Thanks for the replies.
>
>Following on from the discussion of the nature of the central nervous 
>physiology, I'd like to enquire more about the nature of the 
>peripheral input. (I should point out that I am conducting research on 
>insect sensory systems, so have not been exposed to much work on 
>vertebrate systems). Never the less, an interesting paper has recently 
>been published that makes certain postulates on the nature of the 
>peripheral sensory input. It relates to feeding, but has other 
>applications. Part of the model suggests (with some experimental 
>evidence to back it up) that it is the total number of nerve impulses 
>from a number of sensory cells that are required to form the input 
>pattern of the "acceptable diet", ie across-fibre patterning. The 
>important point is that depending on the quality of the previous diet, 
>the firing patterns of the various sensory cells will change such that 
>the behavioural feeding response is modified to take in deficient 
>nutrients, but the total number of impulses for all the sensory cells 
>would be roughly the same.
>
>Any comments? Has there been much experimentation of this area in 
>vertebrate systems, or are entomologists leading the way again?
>
>Ref: Simpson S. J.  and D. Raubenheimer. 1996. Feeding behaviour, 
>sensory physiology and nutrient feedback: a unifying model. 
>Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 80: 55-64. 
>Regards,
>Craig.


very interesting, craig!  this is a very good example, too.  i could surely use
this reference.

colleen specht