The paddlefish is a unique model to study information processing in the electrosensory system and sensori-motor integration. We study the behavior, the anatomy of electrosensory pathways in the CNS, and the physiology of electrosensory centers. For details visit the home page of the paddlefish lab.
Recent Publications:
Wilkens LA, Hofmann MH. (2007) The paddlefish rostrum as an electrosensory organ: a novel adaptation for plankton feeding. Bioscience 57:399-407.
Hofmann MH, Chagnaud B, Wilkens LA (2005) Response properties of electrosensory afferent fibers and secondary brain stem neurons in the paddlefish. Journal of experimental Biology 208:4213-4222.
Hofmann MH, Wilkens LA (2005) Temporal analysis of moving d.c. electric fields in aquatic media. Physical Biology 2 (2005) 23-28.
Wilkens LA, Hofmann MH (2005) The behavior of animals with a low-frequency, passive electrosensory system. In: Electroreception. Bullock TH, Hopkins CD, Popper, AN, Fay RR (eds.). Springer, New York, pp.229-263.
Hofmann MH, Falk M, Wilkens LA (2004) Eectrosensory brain stem neurons compute the time derivative of electric fields in the paddlefish. Fluctuation and noise letters 4:L129-L138.
Wilkens LA, Hofmann MH, Wojtenek W (2002) The electric sense of the paddlefish: a passive system for the detection and capture of zooplankton prey. J Physiol (Paris) 96:363-377.
Hofmann MH, Woijtenek W, Wilkens LA (2002) Central organization of the electrosensory system in the paddlefish (Polyodon spathula). J Comp Neurol 446:25-36.
