Hygroreception

Hygroreception is the ability to detect changes in the moisture and humidity content of an environment. It is a sense that is not present in humans. Many insects have this sense which has been studied using the cockroach and stick insect.^[1][2] The structure responsible for this sense is a hygroreceptor.^[3][4] In a study conducted upon nematodes, both thermal and mechanical neural pathways are required in order for a specimen to react to humidity. This supports the theory that hygroreception is a result of thermal and mechanical stimuli.^[5]

References

1. Tichy, H; Kallina, W (June 2010). "Insect hygroreceptor responses to continuous changes in humidity and air pressure". Journal of Neurophysiology. 103 (6): 3274–86. doi:10.1152/jn.01043.2009. PMC 3206210. PMID 20375249.
2. Rivers DB, Dahlem GA (2014). The Science of Forensic Entomology. EBL-Schweitzer. Wiley. p. 157. ISBN 978-1-119-94036-4. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
3. Enjin A, Zaharieva EE, Frank DD, Mansourian S, Suh GS, Gallio M, Stensmyr MC (May 2016). "Humidity Sensing in Drosophila". Current Biology. 26 (10): 1352–1358. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2016.03.049. PMC 5305172. PMID 27161501.
4. Tichy H, Kallina W (16 January 2013). "Evaporative Function of Cockroach Hygroreceptors". PLOS ONE. 8 (1): e53998. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...853998T. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0053998. PMC 3546976. PMID 23342058.
5. Russell J, Vidal-Gadea AG, Makay A, Lanam C, Pierce-Shimomura JT (June 2014). "Humidity sensation requires both mechanosensory and thermosensory pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 111 (22): 8269–8274. Bibcode:2014PNAS..111.8269R. doi:10.1073/pnas.1322512111. PMC 4050571. PMID 24843133.