Habituation of mechanoreceptive interneurons in the crayfish.

The effect of repetition of sensory stimuli was studied on the responses of mechanoreceptive interneurons in the optic tract of the crayfish (Procambarus bouvieri (Ortmann)). The number of spikes recorded from a given unit gradually decreased during a train of stimuli. The decrease showed a negative exponential time course, with a curvature dependent upon the frequency of stimulation, the intensity of stimuli, and the hour of the day. Habituation is selective for the intensity and rate of stimulation, and the particular spot of receptive field stimulated. Locomotor excitation results in a dimminution of the rate of decay. The effect of a single train of stimuli when leading to pronounced habituation may persist for periods longer than 24 hr.