Universität zu Köln

Berg, Eva M., Hooper, Scott L., Schmidt, Joachim and Bueschges, Ansgar (2015). A Leg-Local Neural Mechanism Mediates the Decision to Search in Stick Insects. Curr. Biol., 25 (15). S. 2012 - 2018. CAMBRIDGE: CELL PRESS. ISSN 1879-0445

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Abstract

In many animals, individual legs can either function independently, as in behaviors such as scratching or searching, or be used in coordinated patterns with other legs, as in walking or climbing. While the control of walking has been extensively investigated, the mechanisms mediating the behavioral choice to activate individual legs independently are poorly understood. We examined this issue in stick insects, in which each leg can independently produce a rhythmic searching motor pattern if it doesn't find a foothold [1-4]. We show here that one non-spiking interneuron, 14, controls searching behavior in individual legs. One 14 is present in each hemi-segment of the three thoracic ganglia [5, 6]. Search-inducing sensory input depolarizes 14. 14 activity was necessary and sufficient to initiate and maintain searching movements. When substrate contact was provided, 14 depolarization no longer induced searching. 14 therefore both integrates search-inducing sensory input and is gated out by other sensory input (substrate contact). Searching thus occurs only when it is behaviorally appropriate. 14 depolarization never elicited stepping. These data show that individual, locally activated neurons can mediate the behavioral choice to use individual legs independently. This mechanism may be particularly important in insects' front legs, which can function independently like vertebrate arms and hands [7]. Similar local command mechanisms that selectively activate the pattern generators controlling repeated functional units such as legs or body segments may be present in other systems.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Berg, Eva M. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Hooper, Scott L. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Schmidt, Joachim UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Bueschges, Ansgar UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-396637
DOI:	10.1016/j.cub.2015.06.017
Journal or Publication Title:	Curr. Biol.
Volume:	25
Number:	15
Page Range:	S. 2012 - 2018
Date:	2015
Publisher:	CELL PRESS
Place of Publication:	CAMBRIDGE
ISSN:	1879-0445
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language TIBIAL CAMPANIFORM SENSILLA; PATTERN GENERATION; CARAUSIUS-MOROSUS; MOTOR-ACTIVITY; MEDICINAL LEECH; COMMAND NEURON; NONSPIKING INTERNEURONS; MOTONEURONAL ACTIVITY; WALKING MOVEMENTS; CONTROL-SYSTEM Multiple languages Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Biology; Cell Biology Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/39663