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The transfer function of a photoreceptor organ

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The dynamic response of a simple ganglionic photoreceptor has been studied. It exemplifies the general processes of sensory reception and transmission of sensory information in the form of trains of nerve impulses. The experimental basis of the defining linear transfer function is presented. This transfer function is composed of a second order lag and a transport delay. The ventral nerve cord conduction time does not contribute to the transport delay. Nonlinear discrepancies from the linear model are evaluated and discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology Section, Electronic Systems Laboratory, Biology Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.

    Lawrence Stark & Howard T. Hermann

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  1. Lawrence Stark
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  2. Howard T. Hermann
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This research is supported in part by the Air Force (AF-33(616)-7282); the Office of Naval Research [Nonr-609(39)]: the Army Chemical Corp. (Da-18-108-405-Cml-942); and the U.S. Public Health Service (B-3055, B-3090).

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Stark, L., Hermann, H.T. The transfer function of a photoreceptor organ. Kybernetik 1, 124–129 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00290183

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