Linear systems analysis of cutaneous Type I mechanoreceptors

Abstract

Linear system transfer functions of Type I mechanoreceptor domes in hairy skin were extracted for study. The system input, defined in units of indentation depth, was a punctate, 85 Hz bandlimited colored noise indenting stimulus. The system output was a dome's afferent AP event stream. After digitally low-pass filtering the AP event stream to prevent aliasing, transfer and coherence function estimates were generated from spectral and cross spectral estimates of the sampled input and output signals. Transfer function magnitudes (receptor sensitivity) beyond 10 Hz could be well fit by a fractional exponent (0.35 +/- 0.10) of frequency, indicating fractional order differentiation. Transfer function phases were near 120 degrees for frequencies less than 10 Hz and decreased progressively beyond 10 Hz. Coherence function estimates were low as a result of inherent nonlinearities, primarily rectification. Single dome results closely matched those reported by French and Kuster [6] for the tactile spine of the cockroach, suggesting that in terms of spectral sensitivity the receptors have similar transduction mechanisms. However, nonlinear systems modeling techniques are required for a more complete system characterization.