[Directional sensitivity of neurons of the cercal system of crickets in different body positions in a gravitational field].

The giant interneurons in the terminal abdominal ganglion of cricket (Acheta domesticus) were studied using sound signals with special interest to the effect of the body tilt on the directional sensitivity diagrams. The neurons under study receive their inputs from the cerci which have receptors sensitive to mechanic and acoustic stimulation and receptors sensitive to the cricket orientation in the gravity field. Directional sensitivity diagrams of the neurons were estimated by counting the numbers of impulses in their responses to sound signals of various directions for various body tilt. A detailed experimental investigation and corresponding calculation have demonstrated that the sound directional sensitivity diagrams of the neurons always turn as being fixed to the body when the cricket is tilted. This result indicates that cercal gravity receptors do not exert any specific influence on directional sensitivity of the abdominal ganglion neurons.