ISSN:
1432-0770
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Computer Science
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Here we analyse the previous results concerning the effects of photic and electric stimulation on the contraction-relaxation behaviour of Hydra, the existence of a potential difference between the two extremities of the animal, its rhythmic variation in time, its modulation by luminous environmental changes as well as the contraction pulse variations dependent on the luminous stimulation itself and the complex overt behaviour of an electrically stimulated animal. A model of the mechanism responsible for the rhythmic activity, which takes into account the above results as well as the already known anatomical and physiological data, is given. This model is based on the mutual inhibitory interaction of the two pacemaker systems responsible for the contraction and relaxation outputs, on the post inhibitory rebound after the received inhibition, which rebound constitutes the activity phase of each of them, and on the different weight of the activity exerted by each of them.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00365217
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