Unidirectional Response to Angular Acceleration recorded from the Middle Cristal Nerve in the Statocyst of Octopus vulgaris

YOUNG1 suggests that the three orthogonally arranged sections of the crista of the statocyst of Octopus vulgaris could function as detectors of angular acceleration in a manner similar to the semicircular canals of vertebrates. He also suggests that the macula could provide continuous information about the position of the head. That the statocyst in cephalopods indeed participates in the control of equilibrium and posture has been shown behaviourally2,3. Now we have recorded from the middle cristal nerve of the statocyst the activity of single units of the longitudinal crista that respond unidirectionally to angular acceleration.