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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Über das Wesen der optomotorischen Reaktionen

subject

description

Flying and swimming animals need to be able to avoid passive displacement by air and water currents. Optomotor reactions essentially serve this purpose. The animals must be able to distinguish precisely between sensory stimulation caused by passive displacement and by active locomotion. Stimulation due to active movements does not release optomotor reactions. Apparent exceptions to this rule, occurring only under artificial circumstances, are caused by a derangement of either normal sensory stimulation or normal movement and, consequently, of their normal correlation. Examples of both cases are discussed.