[Seminar] Undulatory locomotion and its neuromechanical control in C. elegans: models and experiments by Dr. Netta Cohen

Abstract

Among the most important roles of nervous systems is to control movement as animals negotiate complex, changing environments. The undulatory locomotion of the  C.  offers an excellent model system for linking neural dynamics with behavior. Using simple but biologically grounded models of C. , we study the interactions between environment, body mechanics and neural control to better understand mechanisms and targets of modulation in adaptive locomotion. One key question addressed here is the mapping of muscle activation to body postures and vice versa. A second question is identifying the respective roles of centrally generated patterns and control in this system. a minimal model of control of undulations, we show that modulation of the mechanics of locomotion results in experimentally observed relationships between kinematic parameters of undulations, whereas internal modulations of the neural control manifest in a distinct form of modulation. We link such forms of gait adaptation to a limited range in the ratio of external mechanical load to the body’s elasticity and discuss the merits of control in motion across a range of physical environments.  Finally, we describe experiments and models of 3D locomotion, including statistical models of 3D postures and mechanical models locomotion control.

Biography

Netta Cohen is Professor of Complex Systems in the School of Computing at the University of Leeds, where she leads activity in Applied Computing in Biology, Medicine and Health. In her research, Cohen combines theoretical and experimental investigation the interface of the physical, computational and life sciences. Before joining the University of Leeds, Netta was a Postdoctoral Fellow, jointly across Physics and Zoology at Tel Aviv University. She received her education in Physics from Columbia University, New York and the Technion, in Haifa, Israel. At Leeds, Cohen has held Advanced and Leadership Fellowships from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Over the last few years, much of her work has focused on studying and control of behavior in C.  and its applications to autonomous robotics for urban infrastructure.