Olivares Erick, Izquierdo Eduardo J, Beer Randall D
Cognitive Science Program, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States.
Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN, United States.
Front Comput Neurosci. 2021 Feb 18;15:572339. doi: 10.3389/fncom.2021.572339. eCollection 2021.
Multiple mechanisms contribute to the generation, propagation, and coordination of the rhythmic patterns necessary for locomotion in . Current experiments have focused on two possibilities: pacemaker neurons and stretch-receptor feedback. Here, we focus on whether it is possible that a chain of multiple network rhythmic pattern generators in the ventral nerve cord also contribute to locomotion. We use a simulation model to search for parameters of the anatomically constrained ventral nerve cord circuit that, when embodied and situated, can drive forward locomotion on agar, in the absence of pacemaker neurons or stretch-receptor feedback. Systematic exploration of the space of possible solutions reveals that there are multiple configurations that result in locomotion that is consistent with certain aspects of the kinematics of worm locomotion on agar. Analysis of the best solutions reveals that gap junctions between different classes of motorneurons in the ventral nerve cord can play key roles in coordinating the multiple rhythmic pattern generators.
多种机制促成了运动所需的节律模式的产生、传播和协调。目前的实验集中在两种可能性上：起搏器神经元和牵张感受器反馈。在这里，我们关注腹神经索中多个网络节律模式发生器的链条是否也对运动有贡献。我们使用一个模拟模型来寻找解剖学上受限的腹神经索回路的参数，当该回路被实现并处于特定环境时，在没有起搏器神经元或牵张感受器反馈的情况下，能够驱动在琼脂上向前运动。对可能解决方案空间的系统探索表明，有多种配置会导致与蠕虫在琼脂上运动的运动学某些方面相一致的运动。对最佳解决方案的分析表明，腹神经索中不同类型运动神经元之间的缝隙连接在协调多个节律模式发生器方面可以发挥关键作用。
