Suppression of proprioceptor--motor neuron interactions by proprioceptors in crayfish claw.

Crayfish claw proprioceptors and slow closer exciter and opener inhibitor motor neurons were monitored simultaneously during imposed claw displacements. With increasing displacement velocity and decreasing joint angle, the activity of closing sensitive receptors increased, while dynamic-static opening sensitive receptor activity decreased during claw closing. Motor neuron activity evoked by claw opening varied inversely as a function of preceding closing velocity, and directly with preceding pause duration at the closed position. This dependence on closing history cannot be accounted for by changes in opening sensitive receptor activity. Data demonstrate that closing sensitive receptors can suppress excitatory interactions between claw proprioceptors and motor neurons.