Hygroreception Explained

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]

Notes and References

1. Tichy . H . Kallina . W . Insect hygroreceptor responses to continuous changes in humidity and air pressure. . Journal of Neurophysiology . June 2010 . 103 . 6 . 3274–86 . 10.1152/jn.01043.2009 . 20375249. 3206210 .
2. Book: Rivers DB, Dahlem GA . The Science of Forensic Entomology . Wiley . EBL-Schweitzer . 2014 . 978-1-119-94036-4 . 20 October 2018 . 157.
3. Enjin A, Zaharieva EE, Frank DD, Mansourian S, Suh GS, Gallio M, Stensmyr MC . Humidity Sensing in Drosophila . Current Biology . 26 . 10 . 1352–1358 . May 2016 . 27161501 . 5305172 . 10.1016/j.cub.2016.03.049 .
4. Tichy H, Kallina W . Evaporative Function of Cockroach Hygroreceptors . PLOS ONE . 8 . 1 . e53998 . 16 January 2013 . 23342058 . 3546976 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0053998 . free . 2013PLoSO...853998T .
5. Russell J, Vidal-Gadea AG, Makay A, Lanam C, Pierce-Shimomura JT . 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 . June 2014 . 24843133 . 4050571 . 10.1073/pnas.1322512111 . 2014PNAS..111.8269R . free .