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Optimal searching behaviour generated intrinsically by the central pattern generator for locomotion

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posted on 2023-06-09, 20:07 authored by David W Sims, Nicolas E Humphries, Nan Hu, Violeta Medan, Jimena BerniJimena Berni
Efficient searching for resources such as food by animals is key to their survival. It has been proposed that diverse animals from insects to sharks and humans adopt searching patterns that resemble a simple Lévy random walk, which is theoretically optimal for ‘blind foragers’ to locate sparse, patchy resources. To test if such patterns are generated intrinsically, or arise via environmental interactions, we tracked free-moving Drosophila larvae with (and without) blocked synaptic activity in the brain, suboesophageal ganglion (SOG) and sensory neurons. In brain-blocked larvae we found that extended substrate exploration emerges as multi-scale movement paths similar to truncated Lévy walks. Strikingly, power-law exponents of brain/SOG/sensory-blocked larvae averaged 1.96, close to a theoretical optimum (µ ~ 2.0) for locating sparse resources. Thus, efficient spatial exploration can emerge from autonomous patterns in neural activity. Our results provide the strongest evidence so far for the intrinsic generation of Lévy-like movement patterns.

Funding

Hox Genes and the Diversification of Neuronal Networks; Wellcome Trust and Royal Society; WT105568AIA

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

eLife

ISSN

2050-084X

Publisher

eLife Sciences Publications Ltd.

Issue

e50316

Volume

8

Page range

1-31

Department affiliated with

  • BSMS Publications

Notes

All data generated and analysed in this study are available in Dryad (http://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.7m0cfxpq0).

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2020-01-06

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2020-01-06

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2020-01-06

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