Topic: animal locomotion

All animal locomotion is rhythmic, whether it is achieved through undulation of the whole body or the coordinated movement of articulated limbs. Neurobiologists have long studied circuits that produce rhythmic activity with non-rhythmic input, also called central pattern generators (CPGs). However, the cellular and microcircuit implementation of a walking CPG has never been described for any limbed animal. Brand new comprehensive connectomes of the fruit fly ventral nerve cord (VNC) provide an opportunity to study rhythmogenic walking circuits at a synaptic resolution. In this project, we deve

The study of animal locomotion and neuromechanical control offers valuable insights for advancing research in neuroscience, biomechanics, and robotics. We have developed FARMS (Framework for Animal and Robot Modeling and Simulation), an open-source, interdisciplinary framework, designed to facilitate access to neuromechanical simulations for modeling, simulation, and analysis of animal locomotion and bio-inspired robotic systems. By providing an accessible and user-friendly platform, FARMS aims to lower the barriers for researchers to explore the complex interactions between the nervous system

Astrocytes are an essential part of the brain active milieu and generate complex spatiotemporal patterns of calcium activity during animal behavior. The properties, mechanisms, and physiological relevance of these patterns are still poorly understood. Here, we performed two-photon calcium imaging in cortical astrocytes expressing cyto-GCaMP6f in head-fixed mice running on a rotating platform. In each imaging frame, suprathreshold calcium activity regions (segments of spatiotemporal calcium events) were detected. We analyzed ΔF/F, total active area, mean segment area, and segment density during

Central pattern generators (CPGs) in the spinal cord control animal locomotion. They generate rhythmically alternating flexor and extensor activities producing coordinated limb movements. Afferent feedback allows animals to adapt locomotion to the environment. Responses of neural activities to afferent feedback stimulation have been previously examined during fictive locomotion in immobilized cats. However, locomotion of behaving animals is governed by dynamic interactions between central neuronal circuits (CPGs), afferent feedback, the musculoskeletal system, and the environment. To study the