Der Regelkreis des Kniesehnenreflexes bei der Stabheuschrecke Carausius morosus: Reaktionen auf passive Bewegungen der Tibia

Abstract1.Passive flexion and extension of the femur-tibia-joint causes forces which are directed against the passive movements. Quantitative measurements of these forces are in accordance with the results obtained from step stimuli in open-loop-experiments (1965, 1972). Repetition of the experiments at the same joint often leads to different results: the animal is apparently able to change the amplification of the system.2.If one brings the joint in a new position by hand, the tibia returns to its starting-point only very slowly. (Flexibilitas cerea). As a quantitative measure for Flexibilitas cerea the time interval is taken, during which a formerly fully extended joint returns to the 90°-position after a 30 sec flexion to 50° (t90) · t90 is not correllated with a quantitative measure of Thanatosis. Therefore it is not allowed to combine Thanatosis and Flexibilitas cerea to Katalepsis. — Legs whose receptor tendons were cut, show no Flexibilitas cerea. The behaviour of Flexibilitas cerea is explained by the attributes of the control system.3.The reaction on very slow constant flexion and extension speeds (2,4°/sec – 0,3°/min) are described. Intact legs show a larger hysteresis at all speeds than legs with cut receptor tendons: it seems the control system reacts at those slow speeds. It responds only to the dynamic part of the movements, however not to the static one.