Gait Modulation in C. elegans: An Integrated Neuromechanical Model

@article{Boyle2012GaitMI,
  title={Gait Modulation in C. elegans: An Integrated Neuromechanical Model},
  author={Jordan H. Boyle and Stefano Berri and Netta Cohen},
  journal={Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience},
  year={2012},
  volume={6}
}
  • J. Boyle, S. Berri, N. Cohen
  • Published 7 March 2012
  • Biology, Computer Science, Medicine
  • Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience
Equipped with its 302-cell nervous system, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans adapts its locomotion in different environments, exhibiting so-called swimming in liquids and crawling on dense gels. Recent experiments have demonstrated that the worm displays the full range of intermediate behaviors when placed in intermediate environments. The continuous nature of this transition strongly suggests that these behaviors all stem from modulation of a single underlying mechanism. We present a model… 
View on PubMed
frontiersin.org
107 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
7
Background Citations
33
Methods Citations
13
Results Citations
4

107 Citations

Citation Type

Citation Type

Integrative neuromechanics of crawling in D. melanogaster larvae
TLDR
A minimal integrative mathematical model is constructed for crawling in Drosophila melanogaster larvae that couples the excitation-inhibition circuits in the nervous system to force production in the muscles and body movement in a frictional environment, thence linking neural dynamics to body mechanics via sensory feedback in a heterogeneous environment.
A ventral nerve cord CPG may underlie locomotion in C. elegans
TLDR
An evolutionary algorithm is used to explore the configurations of the parameters that allow for an intrinsic oscillation in the neural unit so as to match the main features that have been experimentally observed in neural traces of forward and backward locomotion.
From head to tail: A neuromechanical model of forward locomotion in C. elegans
TLDR
Analysis of the development and analysis of a model of forward locomotion that integrates the neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and body mechanics of the worm revealed that head motoneurons SMD and RMD are sufficient to drive dorsoventral undulations in the head and neck and that short-range posteriorly-directed proprioceptive feedback is sufficient to propagate the wave along the rest of the body.
The control structure of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans: Neuro-sensory integration and proprioceptive feedback.
From head to tail: a neuromechanical model of forward locomotion in Caenorhabditis elegans
  • E. Izquierdo, R. Beer
  • Medicine, Biology
    Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
  • 2018
TLDR
Analysis of the development and analysis of a model of forward locomotion that integrates the neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and body mechanics of the worm revealed that head motoneurons SMD and RMD are sufficient to drive dorsoventral undulations in the head and neck and that short-range posteriorly directed proprioceptive feedback is sufficient to propagate the wave along the rest of the body.
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.
Nematode locomotion: dissecting the neuronal–environmental loop
Modal Locomotion of C.elegans
TLDR
A locomotion model for C. elegans is introduced, which can enable in-silico validation of behavioral experiments prior to physical experimentation with actual C. aristans specimens and achieve locomotions that match qualitatively those of real-world worms.
Signatures of proprioceptive control in Caenorhabditis elegans locomotion
TLDR
A computational model is used to identify effects of neural and mechanical modulation on undulatory forward locomotion of Caenorhabditis elegans, with a focus on proprioceptively driven neural control, and reveals a fundamental relationship between body elasticity and environmental drag in determining the dynamics of the body.
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.
...
1
2
3
4
5
...

References

SHOWING 1-10 OF 71 REFERENCES
Forward locomotion of the nematode C. elegans is achieved through modulation of a single gait
TLDR
A smooth transition from swimming to crawling is revealed, marked by a linear relationship between key locomotion metrics, and it is shown that environmental forces play only a small role in determining the shape of the worm, placing conditions on the minimal pattern of internal forces driving locomotion.
Neural control of Caenorhabditis elegans forward locomotion: the role of sensory feedback
TLDR
A simple yet biologically-grounded model for the neural control of Caenorhabditis elegans forward locomotion finds that a minimal circuit of AVB interneurons and B-class motoneurons is sufficient to generate and sustain fictiveforward locomotion patterns that are robust to significant environmental perturbations.
C. elegans locomotion : an integrated approach
TLDR
An integrated neuromechancial model of C. elegans forward locomotion is applied, which demonstrates the ability to qualitatively and quantitatively account for locomotion across a range of media from water to agar, as well as in more complex (heterogeneous) environments.
Genetic analysis of crawling and swimming locomotory patterns in C. elegans
TLDR
It is shown that Caenorhabditis elegans switches between distinct forms of locomotion, or crawling versus swimming, when transitioning between solid and liquid environments.
A simulation model of the locomotion controllers for the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
TLDR
This model is sufficiently rich to generate patterns of undulations that are reminiscent of the biological worm's behaviour and qualitatively similar to patterns which have been shown to generate locomotion in a model of a richer physical environment.
A C. elegans stretch receptor neuron revealed by a mechanosensitive TRP channel homologue
TLDR
It is shown that trp-4 mutant worms bend their body abnormally, exhibiting a body posture distinct from that of wild-type worms during locomotion, suggesting that TRP-4 is involved in stretch-receptor-mediated proprioception, and that the activity of DVA can be stimulated by body stretch.
Systems level circuit model of C. elegans undulatory locomotion: mathematical modeling and molecular genetics
TLDR
The model reveals that stretch receptor coupling in the body wall is critical for generation of the neuromuscular wave, and agrees with behavioral data and with other pertinent published data, e.g., that frequency is an increasing function of muscle gap-junction coupling.
An Integrated Neuro-mechanical Model of C. elegansForward Locomotion
TLDR
It is found that a previous neural model is robust to the addition of a body with mechanical properties, and that the integrated model produces oscillations with a more realistic frequency and waveform than the neural model alone.
Enhanced Caenorhabditis elegans Locomotion in a Structured Microfluidic Environment
TLDR
These results show that the microstructure can be used as a behavioral screen for mechanosensory and uncoordinated mutants, and it is likely that worms use mechanosensation in the movement and navigation through heterogeneous environments.
Biomechanical analysis of gait adaptation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
TLDR
This work studies the undulatory movements of C. elegans in Newtonian fluids spanning nearly five orders of magnitude in viscosity and suggests that the nematode locomotory gait continuously adapts to external mechanical load in order to maintain propulsive thrust.
...
1
2
3
4
5
...