Towards dynamic perceptual cues in active electroreception: modelling of electric image flow based on sensory related behavior
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1
Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Uruguay
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2
Universität Bielefeld, Active Sensing, Biology, Germany
Weakly electric fish like Gnathonemus petersii actively sense their environment using a self-emitted electric organ discharge (EOD) that produces an electric field around the fish. Nearby objects modulate the local intensity of the field at the skin of the animals and this modulated distribution is called the electric image (EI). Each EI can be characterized by a set of parameters, namely amplitude and location of the EI-peak, slope or gradient, half width and others. The perceptual capability of Gnathonemus has been tested in behavioural experiments and some physical parameters of electric images have been linked to these capabilities.
However, EI have been studied mostly in static conditions, focusing on the spatial properties of electric images based on single EODs.
We modelled sequences of EI based on video sequences of fish during object examination (metal cubes of 1, 8 or 27 cm3)(Figure 1A). Data was triggered by the EOD occurrences and kinematic parameters of the fish were obtained. These data provided the input to a model of EI (Figure 1B) to analyse selected sequence of object inspection with robust occurrence. We obtained sequences consisting of orienting, approaching and close-range exploration.
For these scenes we seek to find cues and rules in the temporal change of EI-parameters that can be linked to the different phases of the behaviour. The location of the EI peak indicates the direction in which the cube is located. Upon detection the fish orients itself towards the object, bringing the image on its head, and when the fish moves if the peak amplitude of the image grows it means it is approaching the object. This translates to a global parameter (ID), defined as the point to point difference of the squared local current amplitudes. This also increases as a fish approaches an object. An example of the dynamics of this parameter and the EI itself is shown in figure C. Similar to ID we find that the slope amplitude ratio and the temporal half-maximum-width of the EI predictably change with distance to the cube.
All these dynamic parameters are fit candidates to be used by the fish to extract object cues and target an object precisely. The experimental design presented above allows us to study the sensory-motor loop while the fish is inspecting the object. The sequence of actions and sensory inputs that the fish gets as a result enables us to infer the implicit decisions made by the fish and the possible rules that support them.
Legend: A: Videotracking of the fish. B: Modelled EI for two EOD’s of the sequence shown in A. C: From every electric image we obtain the image on a horizontal plane along the fish. Each vertical coloured line is a complete linear image based on a single EOD. Schnauzenorgan (SO) is displayed at the centre. These are plotted in time as the fish approaches the cube from time 37 to 39 s, and turns to leave the cube behind, 39 s onwards. EOD frequency and ID parameter are plotted.
Acknowledgements
Authors aknowledge funding of JIS by ANII (Uruguayan National Agency for Research and Innovation)
Keywords:
Electric Fish,
electrolocation,
sensorimotor
Conference:
Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology, College Park. Maryland USA, United States, 5 Aug - 10 Aug, 2012.
Presentation Type:
Poster (but consider for participant symposium and student poster award)
Topic:
Sensory: Electrosensory
Citation:
Sanguinetti-Scheck
JI,
Hofmann
V,
Engelmann
J and
Gómez-Sena
L
(2012). Towards dynamic perceptual cues in active electroreception: modelling of electric image flow based on sensory related behavior.
Conference Abstract:
Tenth International Congress of Neuroethology.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnbeh.2012.27.00356
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Received:
30 Apr 2012;
Published Online:
07 Jul 2012.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Leonel Gómez-Sena, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Montevideo, Uruguay, leonel.gomez@gmail.com