Weakly electric fish are a unique model system in neuroethology as musculoskeletal systems and mechanics are not involved in many of their behaviours. Rather, these behaviours are mediated solely by the activity of neurons and other excitable cells inthe sensory and motor systems of these fascinating animals. Their electrical behaviours can be recorded easily as variations in the waveform, timing and amplitude of the electric organ discharge. As a consequence, the behavioural roles of specific features of neural circuits and of transmembrane molecules that affect membrane voltages can be measured directly using simple electrodes positioned in the water. This experimental advantage facilitates our ability to study the neural mechanisms that underliea wealth of behaviour.
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