Giant Interneurons Mediating Equilibrium Reception in an Insect

Abstract

In the burrowing cockroach Arenivaga, two giant interneurons in each connective of the ventral nerve cord provide gravity orientation information. The interneurons receive input from plumb bob-like equilibrium receptors on the ventral surface of the cerci. Ouir results support the theory that the cerci of cockroaches are specialized equilibrium organs.