Page "Neuroethology" Paragraph 44

Neuroethologists performed several experiments under Eigenmannia ’ s natural conditions to study how it determined the sign of the frequency difference.

They manipulated the fish ’ s discharge by injecting it with curare which prevented its natural electric organ from discharging.

Then, an electrode was placed in its mouth and another was placed at the tip of its tail.

Likewise, the neighboring fish ’ s electric field was mimicked using another set of electrodes.

This experiment allowed neuroethologists to manipulate different discharge frequencies and observe the fish ’ s behavior.

From the results, they were able to conclude that the electric field frequency, rather than an internal frequency measure, was used as a reference.

This experiment is significant in that not only does it reveal a crucial neural mechanism underlying the behavior but also demonstrates the value neuroethologists place on studying animals in their natural habitats.