Insects use two distinct classes of steps during unrestrained locomotion.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Adaptive, context-dependent control of locomotion requires modulation of centrally generated rhythmic motor patterns through peripheral control loops and postural reflexes. Thus assuming that the modulation of rhythmic motor patterns accounts for much of the behavioural variability observed in legged locomotion, investigating behavioural variability is a key to the understanding of context-dependent control mechanisms in locomotion. To date, the variability of unrestrained locomotion is poorly understood, and virtually nothing is known about the features that characterise the natural statistics of legged locomotion. In this study, we quantify the natural variability of hexapedal walking and climbing in insects, drawing from a database of several thousand steps recorded o

SUBMITTER: Theunissen LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3871641 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature