A neuromechanical model for Drosophila larval crawling based on physical measurements.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Animal locomotion requires dynamic interactions between neural circuits, the body (typically muscles), and surrounding environments. While the neural circuitry of movement has been intensively studied, how these outputs are integrated with body mechanics (neuromechanics) is less clear, in part due to the lack of understanding of the biomechanical properties of animal bodies. Here, we propose an integrated neuromechanical model of movement based on physical measurements by taking Drosophila larvae as a model of soft-bodied animals.

Results

We first characterized the kinematics of forward crawling in Drosophila larvae at a segmental and whole-body level. We then characterized the biomechanical parameters of fly larvae, namely the contraction forces generated by neur

SUBMITTER: Sun X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9199175 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature