Bläsing B, Cruse H
Faculty of Biology, University of Bielefeld, Postbox 100131, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany.
J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2004 Mar;190(3):173-83. doi: 10.1007/s00359-003-0482-3. Epub 2004 Jan 20.
Locomotion of stick insects climbing over gaps of more than twice their step length has proved to be a useful paradigm to investigate how locomotor behaviour is adapted to external conditions. In this study, swing amplitudes and extreme positions of single steps from gap-crossing sequences have been analysed and compared to corresponding parameters of undisturbed walking. We show that adaptations of the basic mechanisms concern movements of single legs as well as the coordination between the legs. Slowing down of stance velocity, searching movements of legs in protraction and the generation of short steps are crucial prerequisites in the gap-crossing task. The rules of leg coordination described for stick insect walking seem to be modified, and load on the supporting legs is assumed to have a major effect on coordination especially in slow walking. Stepping into the gap with a front leg and antennal contact with the far edge of the gap provide information, as both events influence the following leg movements, whereas antennal "non-contact" seems not to contain information. Integration of these results into the model of the walking controller can improve our understanding of insect locomotion in highly irregular environments.
竹节虫跨越超过其步长两倍的间隙时的运动，已被证明是研究运动行为如何适应外部条件的有用范例。在本研究中，分析了跨越间隙序列中单步的摆动幅度和极端位置，并与正常行走的相应参数进行了比较。我们表明，基本机制的适应性涉及单条腿的运动以及腿之间的协调。 stance速度减慢、腿部在伸展时的搜索运动以及短步的产生是跨越间隙任务中的关键先决条件。描述竹节虫行走的腿部协调规则似乎有所改变，并且支撑腿上的负荷被认为对协调有主要影响，尤其是在慢走时。用前腿踏入间隙以及触角与间隙远边缘接触会提供信息，因为这两个事件都会影响后续的腿部运动，而触角“非接触”似乎不包含信息 。将这些结果整合到行走控制器模型中，可以增进我们对昆虫在高度不规则环境中运动的理解
