Mathematical Analysis and Simulations of the Neural Circuit for Locomotion in Lamprey.pdfVIP

Mathematical analysis and simulations of the neural circuit for locomotion in lamprey 1 1 2 Li Zhaoping , Alex Lewis , and Silvia Scarpetta 1 University College, London, UK 2INFM Dept.of Physics, University of Salerno, Italy We analyze the dynamics of the neural circuit of the lamprey central pattern generator (CPG) This analysis provides insights into how neural interactions form oscillators and enable spontaneous oscillations in a network of damped oscillators, which were not apparent in previous simulations or abstract phase oscillator models. We also show how the different behaviour regimes (characterized by phase and amplitude relationships between oscillators) of forward/backward swimming, and 4 turning, can be controlled using the neural connection strengths and external inputs. 0 0 PACS numbers: 87.19.La, 87.19.St 2 r p Locomotion in verbebrates (walking, swimming, etc.) segment i+1 E L C C L E A is generated by central pattern generators (CPGs) in the Left side Right side spinal cord. The CPG for swimming in lamprey is one 8 of the best known [1, 2], and has been a model system segment i E L C C L E for investigations. It produces left-right anti-phase oscil- ] C latory neural and motor activities propagating along a bod