Spatial organization of receptive fields of lateral lemniscus neurons of the lateral line lobe of the catfishIctalurus nebulosus

Abstract

1. The receptive fields of type I and II electrosensitive lateral line lobe neurons were mapped using a field scan technique. It was found that there is a distribution of the size and configuration of the receptive fields, but that most have a rostral-caudal span 1/5 or less of the total body length. 2. The pattern of primary afferent convergence onto type I and II neurons suggests that most of the spatial detail in the static electrical “images” from nearby environmental current sources is encoded in the lateral lemniscus. The implication of this with regard to the ability of the fish to localize current sources is discussed.