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To swim or not to swim: A population-level model of Xenopus tadpole decision making and locomotor behaviour

Borisyuk, Roman, Merrison-Hort, Robert, Soffe, Steve R., Koutsikou, Stella, Li, Wen-Chang (2017) To swim or not to swim: A population-level model of Xenopus tadpole decision making and locomotor behaviour. Biosystems, 161 . pp. 3-14. ISSN 0303-2647. (doi:10.1016/j.biosystems.2017.07.004) (KAR id:64135)

Abstract

We present a detailed computational model of interacting neuronal populations that mimic the hatchling Xenopus tadpole nervous system. The model includes four sensory pathways, integrators of sensory information, and a central pattern generator (CPG) network. Sensory pathways of different modalities receive inputs from an "environment"; these inputs are then processed and integrated to select the most appropriate locomotor action. The CPG populations execute the selected action, generating output in motor neuron populations. Thus, the model describes a detailed and biologically plausible chain of information processing from external signals to sensors, sensory pathways, integration and decision-making, action selection and execution and finally, generation of appropriate motor activity and behaviour. We show how the model produces appropriate behaviours in response to a selected scenario, which consists of a sequence of "environmental" signals. These behaviours might be relatively complex due to noisy sensory pathways and the possibility of spontaneous actions.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2017.07.004
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
Q Science > QA Mathematics (inc Computing science)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Medway School of Pharmacy
Depositing User: Stella Koutsikou
Date Deposited: 24 Oct 2017 15:05 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 17:17 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/64135 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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