The Photoreceptors of Lampreys

Abstract

1. The tail of larval and adult L. planeri and adult L. fluviatilis contains a photoreceptive mechanism involving an initial short sensitization period, and a latent period. 2. The impulses initiated by the photochemical change are carried in the lateral line nerves, as is shown by the facts that section of these nerves abolishes the response, whereas section of the spinal cord does not do so. 3. Motor responses are only occasionally seen after illumination of parts of the body other than the tail. These responses are apparently due to direct stimulation of the spinal cord, and can be regularly elicited if the pigment protecting the latter be removed. 4. Motor responses may follow illumination of the head, either of larvae or adults, but only after illumination periods much longer than are necessary to obtain a response from the tail. 5. The responses play a part in the normal behaviour of the animals by assisting them to bury themselves completely in the mud. 6. The stimulus of illumination of the tail simply initiates swimming movements, and there is no orientation of the animal with reference to the direction of the light. This is confirmed by the observation that, following illumination of the tail from one side, the first movement of the head may be either towards or away from the side stimulated. Further, after section of one lateral line nerve only no forced movements occur on illumination. The reaction may thus be described as a photokinesis, and does not involve any true topotaxis, its effect is to prevent the animal remaining in any illuminated area.