Resilience of neural networks for locomotion

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2021

Abstract

Locomotion is an essential behaviour for the survival of all animals. The neural circuitry underlying locomotion is therefore highly robust to a wide variety of perturbations, including injury and abrupt changes in the environment. In the short term, fault tolerance in neural networks allows locomotion to persist immediately after mild to moderate injury. In the longer term, in many invertebrates and vertebrates, neural reorganization including anatomical regeneration can restore locomotion after severe perturbations that initially caused paralysis. Despite decades of research, very little is known about the mechanisms underlying locomotor resilience at the level of the underlying neural circuits and coordination of central pattern generators (CPGs). Undulatory locomotion is an ideal behaviour for exploring principles of circuit organization, neural control and resilience of locomotion, offering a number of unique advantages including experimental accessibility and modelling tractability. In comparing three well-characterized undulatory swimmers, lampreys, larval zebrafish and Caenorhabditis elegans, we find similarities in the manifestation of locomotor resilience. To advance our understanding, we propose a comparative approach, integrating experimental and modelling studies, that will allow the field to begin identifying shared and distinct solutions for overcoming perturbations to persist in orchestrating this essential behaviour. (Figure presented.).

Identifier

85109906038 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Journal of Physiology

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1113/JP279214

e-ISSN

14697793

ISSN

00223751

PubMed ID

34187088

First Page

3825

Last Page

3840

Issue

16

Volume

599

Grant

EP/S01540X/1

Fund Ref

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

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