Neural Networks for Real-Time Sensory Data Processing and Sensorimotor Control
Abstract
In our experimental work over the past six months we have made progress in both the behavioral and physiological areas. Behaviorally, we have continued our efforts to define the effects of leg deficits. In physiological experiments, we have documented the relative timing of wind evoked activity in individual ventral giant interneurons (vGIs). We have performed behavioral observations both on whole leg ablation and on animals that have received lesions of specific proprioceptors of the mesothoracic legs. High speed video data clearly demonstrated that both of these procedures altered the escape movements. However, the changes that were observed were not consistent from animal to animal. In the leg ablation procedures, we found that removal of mesothoracic legs initially caused the animal to simply escape forward. This is consistent with our observations on intact animals that indicated that much of the turning direction comes from the actions of the mesothoracic legs. Nevertheless, when we retested the animals three to five days after the ablation, some of the turning ability returned. We then moved the system to the tethered preparation where we could obtain more direct information on leg movements. It was our hope that this could explain the changes seen in the free ranging animal.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 13, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA244424
Entities
People
- Randall D. Beer
Organizations
- Case Western Reserve University