6533b7d8fe1ef96bd126a294
RESEARCH PRODUCT
How a Fish’s Brain May Move a Fish’s Body
K. Behrendsubject
Movement (music)Small numberCentral pattern generatorAnatomyBiologybiology.organism_classificationSpinal cordmedicine.anatomical_structureEigenmannia virescensmedicineNeuronBrainstemElectric fishNeurosciencedescription
The brainstem of the electric fish Eigenmannia virescens contains a small number of neural networks projecting directly onto the motoneuron pools of the spinal cord such that each segment is reached by at least one neuron of all the networks. Quantitative data of movement patterns, recorded from freely moving animals as well as elicited by electrical stimulation of the single networks, suggest that each network contains a full program for a particular movement, e. g. bending of the body axis to one side. By virtue of the structural relationship the programs are executable with a small number of segments. Mixing of small pieces of programs along the body axis allows for a far larger variety of movement patterns seen in the animals than may be expected from the small number of networks.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-01-01 |