Olfactory discrimination of complex mixtures of amino acids by the black bullhead Ameiurus melas

摘要: On the basis of previous findings behavioural discrimination amino acids and on knowledge electrophysiology catfish (genera Ictalurus Ameiurus) olfactory organs, experiments that investigated acid mixtures were carried out black bullhead Ameiurus melas. Repeated presentations food-rewarded released increased swimming activity measured by counting number turns >90° within 90 s stimulus addition. Non-rewarded their little activity, indicating A. melas discriminated between conditioned non-conditioned stimuli. Two questions mixture addressed: (1) Are able to detect components simple complex mixtures? (2) What are smallest differences two can detect? Three 13 component tested composed primarily equipotent [determined equal electroolfactogram (EOG) amplitude] contained L-Cys at ×100 concentration. initially perceived ternary as its more stimulatory alone [i.e. cysteine (Cys)], whereas containing was immediately different from alone. The results indicate detectable but not those mixtures. To test for in composition similar multimixtures, all equipotent. Initially, unable discriminate six seven acids, they four five mixture. Experience with dissimilar enabled start discriminating seven-component six-component counterparts. After fewer than training trials, nine 10 a 12 acids; however, irrespective 11