Ablation of Antennae Does Not Disrupt Magnetoreceptive Behavioural Reaction of the American Cockroach to Periodically Rotated Geomagnetic Field.

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Authors

VÁCHA Martin PŮŽOVÁ Tereza DRŠTKOVÁ Dana

Year of publication 2008
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Neuroscience Letters
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Field Neurology, neurosurgery, neurosciences
Keywords Magnetoreception Insects Behaviour Antenna Periplaneta
Description Neither a mode of function nor an exact anatomical localization of the animal magnetoreceptor have been identified in any organism. Insects antennae are organs specialized as unique neural input structures for a number of sensory modalities and have also been suggested to play a certain role in magnetoreception. In the present study, we used the American cockroach Periplaneta americana and tested the impact of amputation of both its antennae on the spontaneous magnetosensitive behaviour. By means of a full-laboratory assay we registered a non-specific unlearned movement reaction to the changing magnetic environment within the frame of the natural time and intensity parameters of the field. We report no loss of the magnetoreceptive behaviour in antennaeless cockroaches. Our finding narrows the spectrum of the insects magnetite-rich nerve structures which might potentially be involved in magnetoreception.
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