An Integrated Neuromechanical Model of Steering in C. elegans

@inproceedings{Izquierdo2015AnIN,
  title={An Integrated Neuromechanical Model of Steering in C. elegans},
  author={Eduardo J. Izquierdo and Randall D. Beer},
  booktitle={ECAL},
  year={2015}
}
In this paper, we extend our previous model circuit for steering in C. elegans to control a more realistic biomechanical model of forward locomotion. We show that the identified steering circuit is sufficient to steer the full body during forward locomotion while only innervating a few of the anterior most neck muscles. Analysis of the sensorimotor transformation and phasic stimulation experiments provides evidence that the principles of operation for steering discussed in the model are… 
View via Publisher
mitpress.mit.edu
16 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
2
Background Citations
5
Methods Citations
2

16 Citations

Citation Type

Citation Type

Whole animal modeling: piecing together nematode locomotion
The control structure of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans: Neuro-sensory integration and proprioceptive feedback.
The whole worm: brain–body–environment models of C. elegans
Emulation of chemical stimulus triggered head movement in the C. elegans nematode
TLDR
A simulation of the neural network in C. elegans that responds to chemical stimulus is presented and a consequent realistic head movement demonstrated and an evolutionary algorithm has been utilised to search for estimates of the values of the synaptic conductances and also to determine whether each synapse is excitatory or inhibitory in nature.
Potential role of a ventral nerve cord central pattern generator in forward and backward locomotion in Caenorhabditis elegans
TLDR
A computational model grounded in the available neuroanatomy and neurophysiology is developed and used to explore the space of possible configurations of the circuit that matched the neural traces observed during forward and backward locomotion in the worm, demonstrating that it is possible for the rhythmic contraction to be produced by a circuit present in the ventral nerve cord.
Modeling Behavioral Experiment Interaction and Environmental Stimuli for a Synthetic C. elegans
TLDR
This work focuses on the stimuli sensation by different types of sensory organs or various sensory principles of the neurons, and includes models for mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical and light stimuli, and for proprioception-related self-sensed information exchange with the neural network.
Information Flow through a Model of the C. elegans Klinotaxis Circuit
TLDR
Despite large variations in the neural parameters of individual circuits, the overall information flow architecture circuit is remarkably consistent across the ensemble, suggesting structural connectivity is not necessarily predictive of effective connectivity and information flow analysis captures general principles of operation for the klinotaxis circuit.
Forward and backward locomotion patterns in C. elegans generated by a connectome-based model simulation
TLDR
A connectome-based neural network model consisting of motor neurons of classes A, B, D, AS, and muscle, considering both synaptic and gap connections is presented, which can be trained to reproduce the activity patterns measured for an animal (HRB4 strain).
c302: a multiscale framework for modelling the nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans
TLDR
A framework is developed that allows different instances of neuronal networks to be generated incorporating varying levels of anatomical and physiological detail, which can be investigated and refined independently or linked to other tools developed in the OpenWorm modelling toolchain.
Unsupervised Learning Facilitates Neural Coordination Across the Functional Clusters of the C. elegans Connectome
TLDR
It is concluded that the self-optimization process can be applied to neural network topologies characterized by greater biological realism, and that long-range inhibitory connections can facilitate the generalization capacity of the process.
...
1
2
...

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 27 REFERENCES
Nematode locomotion: dissecting the neuronal–environmental loop
Gait Modulation in C. elegans: An Integrated Neuromechanical Model
TLDR
A model of C. elegans forward locomotion is presented that includes a neuromuscular control system that relies on a sensory feedback mechanism to generate undulations and is integrated with a physical model of the body and environment and reproduces the entire swim-crawl transition with no modulatory mechanism.
Neurobiology of Caenorhabditis elegans Locomotion: Where Do We Stand?
TLDR
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is used for detailed studies of genetic and physiological locomotion mechanisms, and locomotion behavior, the parts constituting the locomotion system, and the relevant neuronal connectivity are described.
Evolution and Analysis of Minimal Neural Circuits for Klinotaxis in Caenorhabditis elegans
TLDR
A minimalistic neural network, comprised of an ON-OFF pair of chemosensory neurons and a pair of neck muscle motor neurons, is sufficient to generate realistic klinotaxis behavior, suggesting that the model may be operating according to principles similar to those of the biological network.
Dimensionality and Dynamics in the Behavior of C. elegans
TLDR
It is shown that the space of shapes adopted by the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is low dimensional, with just four dimensions accounting for 95% of the shape variance, and Stimulus-dependent correlations among the different modes suggest that one can generate more reliable behaviors by synchronizing stimuli to the state of the worm in shape space.
The computational worm: spatial orientation and its neuronal basis in C. elegans
  • S. Lockery
  • Medicine, Biology
    Current Opinion in Neurobiology
  • 2011
Circuit and Behavioral Analysis of Klinotaxis in Caenorhabditis elegans
TLDR
This dissertation investigates the neural basis of the sensorimotor transformation underlying a spatial orientation strategy in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and finds a minimal neuronal network for klinotaxis to sodium chloride including the ASE, AIY, AIZ, and SMB neuron classes that displays left/right asymmetry across the sensory neuron, interneuron, and motor neuron levels.
Connecting a Connectome to Behavior: An Ensemble of Neuroanatomical Models of C. elegans Klinotaxis
TLDR
This paper develops a neuroanatomically-grounded model of salt klinotaxis, a form of chemotaxis in which changes in orientation are directed towards the source through gradual continual adjustments.
Controlling interneuron activity in Caenorhabditis elegans to evoke chemotactic behavior
TLDR
Optogenetics and new optical tools are used to manipulate neural activity directly in freely moving animals to evoke chemotactic behaviour and it is discovered that controlling the dynamics of activity in just one interneuron pair (AIY) was sufficient to force the animal to locate, turn towards and track virtual light gradients.
Neuronal substrates of complex behaviors in C. elegans.
TLDR
This work has identified gene products required for nervous system function and elucidated the molecular and neural bases of behaviors in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
...
1
2
3
...