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Science 23 May 1969:
Vol. 164. no. 3882, pp. 965 - 968
DOI: 10.1126/science.164.3882.965
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Articles

Microvolt Electric Signals from Fishes and the Environment

E. G. Barham 1, W. B. Huckabay 1, R. Gowdy 1, and B. Burns 1

1 Marine Environment Division, Naval Undersea Research and Development Center, San Diego, California 92132

Pulses in the 0.01 to 40 microvolt range, probably generated by white fiber muscle action potentials, were remotely received through dipole antennae from five fishes and one amphibian in aquarium tests. In natural environments, however, no biologically generated signals have been detected. Received instead were a multitude of similar signals originating from unknown sources. The dominant types of these "atmospheric" signals and their reception rates change diurnally and can easily be confused with the fish-generated signals.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
An Electric Sense in Crayfish?.
P. Steullet, D. H. Edwards, and C. D. Derby (2007)
Biol. Bull. 213, 16-20
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