Efferent Influences on the Afferent Activity from the Octopus Angular Acceleration Receptor System

Electrophysiological recordings were made from afferent units of the octopus angular acceleration receptor system during the electrical stimulation of efferent axons to this system. Of the afferent units examined, 93 % changed their activity in response to stimulation of the efferent axons. During efferent stimulation 77 % of the afferent units decreased their activity. The magnitude of the inhibition and the time to maximum response were frequency dependent, with most units showing an increase in inhibition with increase in efferent stimulation frequency. The poststimulus recovery from inhibition was of two types: either a gradual increase in activity to the pre-stimulus resting level of activity (Fig. 3) or a rapid increase in activity to a level above the pre-stimulus level, i.e. a postinhibitory rebound or facilitation, and then a gradual decline to the resting level of activity (Fig. 4). During long periods of efferent stimulation (> 40 s) the inhibition was not maintained. During stimulation of the efferent axons 16% of the afferent units increased their activity. The post-stimulus response consisted of either a gradual decrease in activity to the pre-stimulus level of resting activity or a rapid increase in activity followed by a gradual decrease to the resting level of activity (Fig. 6). During long periods of efferent stimulation the excitation increased to a plateau level which was maintained for the duration of the stimulus period (Fig. 7). Sinusoidal oscillations of the statocyst evoked bursts of afferent activity in time with the movement. The magnitude of these bursts could be decreased or increased by stimulation of the efferent axons (Fig. 8). It is proposed that two populations of efferents are present in the octopus statocyst, one inhibitory and the other excitatory, and that both types of efferent affect single afferent units.