Universität zu Köln

Szczecinski, Nicholas S., Bockemuehl, Till, Chockley, Alexander S. and Bueschges, Ansgar (2018). Static stability predicts the continuum of interleg coordination patterns in Drosophila. J. Exp. Biol., 221 (22). CAMBRIDGE: COMPANY BIOLOGISTS LTD. ISSN 1477-9145

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Abstract

During walking, insects must coordinate the movements of their six legs for efficient locomotion. This interleg coordination is speed dependent: fast walking in insects is associated with tripod coordination patterns, whereas slow walking is associated with more variable, tetrapod-like patterns. To date, however, there has been no comprehensive explanation as to why these speed-dependent shifts in interleg coordination should occur in insects. Tripod coordination would be sufficient at low walking speeds. The fact that insects use a different interleg coordination pattern at lower speeds suggests that it is more optimal or advantageous at these speeds. Furthermore, previous studies focused on discrete tripod and tetrapod coordination patterns. Experimental data, however, suggest that changes observed in interleg coordination are part of a speed-dependent spectrum. Here, we explore these issues in relation to static stability as an important aspect for interleg coordination in Drosophila. We created a model that uses basic experimentally measured parameters in fruit flies to find the interleg phase relationships that maximize stability for a given walking speed. The model predicted a continuum of interleg coordination patterns spanning the complete range of walking speeds as well as an anteriorly directed swing phase progression. Furthermore, for low walking speeds, the model predicted tetrapod-like patterns to be most stable, whereas at high walking speeds, tripod coordination emerged as most optimal. Finally, we validated the basic assumption of a continuum of interleg coordination patterns in a large set of experimental data from walking fruit flies and compared these data with the model-based predictions.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Szczecinski, Nicholas S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Bockemuehl, Till UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Chockley, Alexander S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Bueschges, Ansgar UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-167066
DOI:	10.1242/jeb.189142
Journal or Publication Title:	J. Exp. Biol.
Volume:	221
Number:	22
Date:	2018
Publisher:	COMPANY BIOLOGISTS LTD
Place of Publication:	CAMBRIDGE
ISSN:	1477-9145
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language LEG COORDINATION; LIMB AMPUTATION; SENSORY SIGNALS; NEURAL-CONTROL; STICK INSECT; WALKING; LOCOMOTION; COCKROACH; GAIT; MOVEMENTS Multiple languages Biology Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/16706