The roles of feedback loops in the Caenorhabditis elegans rhythmic forward locomotion

The roles of feedback loops in the Caenorhabditis elegans rhythmic forward locomotion | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Biological Sciences - Article The roles of feedback loops in the Caenorhabditis elegans rhythmic forward locomotion Tao Fang, Peng Zhao, Boyang Wang, Yi Rong, Ye Yuan, Jian Liu, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5055528/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Rhythmic behaviors are of paramount importance in biological systems, particularly in animal locomotion. However, the circuit mechanisms underlying these behaviors remain incompletely understood. While the central pattern generator has been instrumental in explaining many rhythmic locomotion patterns, it is insufficient to account for the flexible tunability of frequency and amplitude in certain oscillatory movements. This suggests the involvement of additional, less understood circuits. This study employs calcium imaging and neuromechanical modeling to investigate the circuit mechanism responsible for sinusoidal forward locomotion in Caenorhabditis elegans . We demonstrate that a feedback loop circuit, consisting of motoneurons and muscles, governs the generation of oscillations and regulates rhythmic forward movement. This circuit is composed of both negative and positive feedback pathways, which together regulate oscillation dynamics. The negative feedback loop includes the muscle-to-motoneuron inhibitory signal, determining oscillation generation, whereas the positive feedback loop incorporates proprioceptive feedback from muscles to motoneurons. These feedback loops coordinate to modulate oscillation turnability, directing oscillatory activities into three distinct patterns: stable oscillation, unilateral oscillation, and non-oscillation. The oscillatory behavior of C. elegans typically involves a rhythmic alternation of dorsal and ventral muscles. Our neuromechanical model of the functional oscillatory unit reveals that asymmetric inputs from interneurons to motoneurons, as well as asymmetric connections from motoneurons to muscles, are essential for this switching mechanism. Our findings suggest that, in addition to the established role of central pattern generators, circuits formed by both positive and negative feedback loops may contribute to the generation of more flexible and modulatory rhythmic behaviors. Biological sciences/Computational biology and bioinformatics/Computational models Biological sciences/Computational biology and bioinformatics/Computational neuroscience/Dynamical systems Biological sciences/Biophysics/Biological fluorescence Biological sciences/Biophysics/Computational biophysics rhythmic locomotion feedback loops oscillation asymmetry tunability neuromechanical model calcium imaging Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files SupplementaryVideo.zip Supplementary Video 1, Supplementary Video 2, Supplementary Video 3 ExtendedDataFigures.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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