Bifurcations of Limit Cycles in a Reduced Model of the Xenopus Tadpole Central Pattern Generator.

ABSTRACT: We present the study of a minimal microcircuit controlling locomotion in two-day-old Xenopus tadpoles. During swimming, neurons in the spinal central pattern generator (CPG) generate anti-phase oscillations between left and right half-centres. Experimental recordings show that the same CPG neurons can also generate transient bouts of long-lasting in-phase oscillations between left-right centres. These synchronous episodes are rarely recorded and have no identified behavioural purpose. However, metamorphosing tadpoles require both anti-phase and in-phase oscillations for swimming locomotion. Previous models have shown the ability to generate biologically realistic patterns of synchrony and swimming oscillations in tadpoles, but a mathematical description of how these oscillations appear is

SUBMITTER: Ferrario A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6051957 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature