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Does the avian ophthalmic nerve carry magnetic navigational information?
The bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) uses the earth's magnetic field as one source of directional information for its migratory orientation. However, the location and structure of the magnetoreceptors that transduce the magnetic information to the nervous system are unknown. Because treatment with a strong magnetic pulse results in a change in the direction of orientation, one of the receptors is thought to involve a magnetizable material such as magnetite. The effects of the magnetizing treatment can be abolished (i.e. the bird returns to its original orientation) by blocking the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve, but the ability of the bird to select and maintain a direction is not affected. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that a magnetizable material such as magnetite is part of the magnetoreceptors that are associated with the ophthalmic nerve.
PMID: 9319100 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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Cited by 7 PubMed Central articles
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Magnetoreception in birds: different physical processes for two types of directional responses.
Wiltschko R, Stapput K, Ritz T, Thalau P, Wiltschko W.
HFSP J. 2007 May; 1(1):41-8. Epub 2007 Mar 21.
[HFSP J. 2007]
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Bats use magnetite to detect the earth's magnetic field.
Holland RA, Kirschvink JL, Doak TG, Wikelski M.
PLoS One. 2008 Feb 27; 3(2):e1676. Epub 2008 Feb 27.
[PLoS One. 2008]
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Light-dependent magnetoreception in birds: increasing intensity of monochromatic light changes the nature of the response.
Wiltschko R, Stapput K, Bischof HJ, Wiltschko W.
Front Zool. 2007 Feb 15; 4:5. Epub 2007 Feb 15.
[Front Zool. 2007]
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