Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Science 1 May 1964:
Vol. 144. no. 3618, pp. 554 - 555
DOI: 10.1126/science.144.3618.554
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Mechanisms of Receptor Adaptation

Martin Mendelson 1 and Werner R. Loewenstein 1

1 Department of Physiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York

Two determinants of adaptation in a mechanoreceptor (Pacinian corpuscle) are described. Both are filters of non-transients. One, a mechanical filter, prevents static components of the mechanical stimulus from reaching the transducer element (nerve ending). This filter is represented by the laminar capsule of the receptor. When the capsule is eliminated by dissection, the generator potential of the nerve ending in response to a sustained stimulus is markedly prolonged. Another filter is represented by an inactivation process of the mechanisms of nerve impulse initiation which prevents a steady outward current from producing repetitive impulses. Both filters cut the duration of the receptor response to a few milliseconds.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Activity-Dependent Sensitivity of Proprioceptive Sensory Neurons in the Stick Insect Femoral Chordotonal Organ.
R. A. DiCaprio, H. Wolf, and A. Buschges (2002)
J Neurophysiol 88, 2387-2398
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Simulation of Different Firing Patterns in Paired Spider Mechanoreceptor Neurons: The Role of Na+ Channel Inactivation.
P. H. Torkkeli and A. S. French (2002)
J Neurophysiol 87, 1363-1368
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Adaptation Properties of Two Types of Sensory Neurons in a Spider Mechanoreceptor Organ.
M. Juusola and A. S. French (1998)
J Neurophysiol 80, 2781-2784
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Facets of a Transducer Process.
W. R. Loewenstein (1965)
Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol 30, 29-43
   Abstract »    PDF »
Adaptation in Stretch Receptor Neurons of Crayfish.
S. Nakajima (1964)
Science 146, 1168-1170
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)