Statistical analysis of repetitive neuronal activity clock-spikes in Calliphora erythrocephala

The main part of this thesis consists of the experimental results. Chapters 4 and 5 contain those obtained on Calliphora erythrocephala, under constant conditions and under visual stimulation, which consisted of presenting light flashes and moving striped patterns to the insect. In chapter 6 some experiments on insects other than Calliphora are presented together with some ideas about a function of the clock-spikes. The experimental and technical aspects - experimental set-up and data processing - are treated in chapter I and a number of biological aspects, localization of the clock-spikes and electrophysiological evidence as to the relation with the muscle, in chapter 2. This chapter concludes with a justification for regarding a series of action potentials as a special case of a stochastic point process. The necessary terminology and some theory of these processes are formulated in chapter 3 together with a description of all analyses used in this thesis. It also contains some thoughts on and an approximate way of analysing nonstationary spike trains. This chapter may be omitted on first reading if one is familiar with the theory of these processes. Finally, the last chapter is devoted to models which may reproduce action potential series with the characteristics of the clock-spikes