Dynamic characteristics of vestibular-driven compensatory fin movements of the dogfish

Abstract

Compensatory pectoral fin reflexes were studied in decerebrate dogfish subjected to sinusoidal oscillation (0.01-1.0 Hz). At 0.01 Hz the peak response of the depressor muscle was in phase with head position. At higher frequencies the phase advanced and at 1 Hz approached that of maximum angular velocity. Peak response amplitude was steady from 0.01 to 0.07 Hz but thereafter increased markedly. We suggest that the high frequency response depends upon vertical semicircular canal input.