RAPID COMMUNICATION Modulation of Calcium-Dependent Postsynaptic Depression Contributes to an Adaptive Sensory Filter

Bastian, Joseph. Modulation of calcium-dependent postsynapthe presence of objects near the fish (electrolocation) as well tic depression contributes to an adaptive sensory filter. J. Neuroas changes caused by signals generated by other electric fish physiol. 80: 3352–3355, 1998. The ability of organisms to ig(electrocommunication) (Bullock and Heiligenberg 1986). nore unimportant patterns of sensory input may be as critical Electroreceptors are also sensitive to changes in posture beas the ability to attend to those that are behaviorally relevant. cause movements of the trunk and tail alter the position of Mechanisms used to reject irrelevant inputs range from periphthe electric organ and therefore the relative field strength eral filters, which allow only restricted portions of the spectrum at different regions of the body. Although electroreceptors of possible inputs to pass, to higher-level processes, which acrespond strongly to these movement-related or reafferent tively select stimuli to be ‘‘attended to.’’ Recent studies of sev-