Feedback control in active sensing: rat exploratory whisking is modulated by environmental contact.

ABSTRACT: Rats sweep their facial whiskers back and forth to generate tactile sensory information through contact with environmental structure. The neural processes operating on the signals arising from these whisker contacts are widely studied as a model of sensing in general, even though detailed knowledge of the natural circumstances under which such signals are generated is lacking. We used digital video tracking and wireless recording of mystacial electromyogram signals to assess the effects of whisker-object contact on whisking in freely moving animals exploring simple environments. Our results show that contact leads to reduced protraction (forward whisker motion) on the side of the animal ipsilateral to an obstruction and increased protraction on the contralateral side. Reduced ipsilateral p

SUBMITTER: Mitchinson B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2124479 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature