An analog VLSI model of the jamming avoidance response in electric fish

Abstract

The author describes an analog VLSI model of the jamming avoidance response (JAR) in the electric fish Eigenmannia. The fish uses the JAR to change the frequency of its electric organ discharge (EOD) so that interfering signals do not impair its ability to detect and locate objects with its electric field. This system, although behaviorally simple, comprises many levels of processing, and distributes the computation over a number of locally connected elements. The distributed nature of the computation makes analog VLSI technology a good substrate for implementing this model because mismatches in the electronic components are averaged out and are therefore not a problem. The author examines the chip's behavior, and compares its data to biological data as a qualitative measure of correctness. >