Evidence that the Lateral-Line Organ Responds to Near-Field Displacements of Sound Sources in Water

Abstract

The lateral-line organ of killifish is shown to be sensitive to a linear function of water displacements associated with the near-field of sound sources, with the displacement probably being the most important factor rather than velocity or acceleration. The near-field effect is discussed and is shown to be important not only for the lateral-line organs but also for the acoustical and vestibular organs. It is emphasized that the near-field effect introduces considerable complications into the study of the acoustico-lateralis system, and is of conceptual importance for the theory of hearing and the study of schooling fish.