Neuromodulation of central pattern generators and its role in the functional recovery of central pattern generator activity

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2019

Abstract

Neuromodulators play an important role in how the nervous system organizes activity that results in behavior. Disruption of the normal patterns of neuromodulatory release or production is known to be related to the onset of severe pathologies such as Parkinson’s disease, Rett syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, and affective disorders. Some of these pathologies involve neuronal structures that are called central pattern generators (CPGs), which are involved in the production of rhythmic activities throughout the nervous system. Here I discuss the interplay between CPGs and neuromodulatory activity, with particular emphasis on the potential role of neuromodulators in the recovery of disrupted neuronal activity. I refer to invertebrate and vertebrate model systems and some of the lessons we have learned from research on these systems and propose a few avenues for future research. I make one suggestion that may guide future research in the field: neuromodulators restrict the parameter landscape in which CPG components operate, and the removal of neuromodulators may enable a perturbed CPG in finding a new set of parameter values that can allow it to regain normal function.

Identifier

85069890107 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Journal of Neurophysiology

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.00784.2018

e-ISSN

15221598

ISSN

00223077

PubMed ID

31066614

First Page

300

Last Page

315

Issue

1

Volume

122

Grant

1715808

Fund Ref

National Science Foundation

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