Passive resting state and history of antagonist muscle activity shape active extensions in an insect limb

Ache, Jan Marek; Matheson, Troy

doi:10.1152/jn.01072.2011

Cited by 12 publications

(17 citation statements)

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“…The delay of 40 ms measured in behavioral experiments was 15 ms longer, which could be needed for an additional processing step within a layer of thoracic interneurons. In any case, the delays observed were short enough to explain the fast retargeting of leg movements observed in behavioral experiments, even taking into account that passive forces may have to be overcome before a change in the movement trajectory can occur during ongoing movement (Ache and Matheson 2012;Hooper et al 2009). Touchsensitive DINs in the cricket and cockroach were even faster and responded within 4 and 7 ms, respectively Comer 1990, 1996;Schöneich et al 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Encoding of near-range spatial information by descending interneurons in the stick insect antennal mechanosensory pathway

Ache

Dürr²

2013

Journal of Neurophysiology

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Encoding of near-range spatial information by descending interneurons in the stick insect antennal mechanosensory pathway

Ache

Dürr²

2013

Journal of Neurophysiology

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“…Do passive forces determine the average leg position? Generally, small limbs assume gravity-independent rest positions without activity in leg motor neurons (Hooper et al, 2009;Ache and Matheson, 2012). The gravity-independent position of a joint depends on the passive forces of the antagonistic muscles (Hooper et al, 2009).…”

Section: Targeted Movements Shift In Average Leg Positionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Single perturbations cause sustained changes in searching behavior in stick insects

Berg

Büschges

Schmidt

2012

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYStick insects (Cuniculina impigra) possessing only a single front leg perform untargeted stereotypical cyclic searching movements with that leg when it loses contact with the ground. When encountering an object, the animals grasp it. We hypothesized that removal of the object immediately after contact with the legʼs tibia would result in a change in searching strategy, i.e. searching movements confined to the former location of the object to regain contact. In our experimental setup, searching movements were restricted to upward and downward movements. After removal of the object, searching movements were continued. However, in post-contact searching, two movement parameters were usually changed: (1) average positions of searching movements were shifted towards the former position of the object; and (2) movement amplitudes were considerably smaller and accompanied by a decrease in cycle period. This confinement of searching movements to the location of contact was interpreted as targeting behavior. All parameters regained initial values after approximately 6s. Changes in position and amplitudes were independently controlled. Neither of the changes was under visual control, but rather depended on the presence of the trochanteral hairplate, a sensory organ that measures the coxa-trochanter joint position. Changes in average leg position were linked to changes in the ratio of electrical activity in the levator and depressor trochanteris muscles, which were based on altered activity in both or either one of the muscles. Our data demonstrate a switch in a simple behavior that is under local sensory control and may utilize a form of short-term memory.

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“…We have previously shown that the resting angle of the locust hind leg femur-tibia (FT) joint is dominated by the extensor tibiae muscle, suggesting strong passive forces in the extensor tibiae muscle and weaker passive forces in the flexor tibiae muscle [8]. Here, we take a comparative approach to test the hypothesis that passive joint forces are matched to different muscle strengths at this joint, and to determine whether passive joint forces produce functionally relevant movements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the locust, the extensor muscle is innervated by just two excitatory motor neurons, the fast (FETi) and slow (SETi) extensor tibiae, which can be reliably and independently stimulated in an isolated or denervated leg [8]. This provides an opportunity to systematically analyze the interactions between passive forces and active, muscle-driven forces in the complete absence of sensory feedback or conflicting motor signals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Passive Joint Forces Are Tuned to Limb Use in Insects and Drive Movements without Motor Activity

Ache

Matheson

2013

Current Biology

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SummaryBackgroundLimb movements are generally driven by active muscular contractions working with and against passive forces arising in muscles and other structures. In relatively heavy limbs, the effects of gravity and inertia predominate, whereas in lighter limbs, passive forces intrinsic to the limb are of greater consequence. The roles of passive forces generated by muscles and tendons are well understood, but there has been little recognition that forces originating within joints themselves may also be important, and less still that these joint forces may be adapted through evolution to complement active muscle forces acting at the same joint.ResultsWe examined the roles of passive joint forces in insect legs with different arrangements of antagonist muscles. We first show that passive forces modify actively generated movements of a joint across its working range, and that they can be sufficiently strong to generate completely passive movements that are faster than active movements observed in natural behaviors. We further demonstrate that some of these forces originate within the joint itself. In legs of different species adapted to different uses (walking, jumping), these passive joint forces complement the balance of strength of the antagonist muscles acting on the joint. We show that passive joint forces are stronger where they assist the weaker of two antagonist muscles.ConclusionsIn limbs where the dictates of a key behavior produce asymmetry in muscle forces, passive joint forces can be coadapted to provide the balance needed for the effective generation of other behaviors.

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Passive resting state and history of antagonist muscle activity shape active extensions in an insect limb

Abstract: Ache JM, Matheson T. Passive resting state and history of antagonist muscle activity shape active extensions in an insect limb.

Cited by 12 publications

References 58 publications

Encoding of near-range spatial information by descending interneurons in the stick insect antennal mechanosensory pathway

Encoding of near-range spatial information by descending interneurons in the stick insect antennal mechanosensory pathway

Single perturbations cause sustained changes in searching behavior in stick insects

Passive Joint Forces Are Tuned to Limb Use in Insects and Drive Movements without Motor Activity

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