Article
Physiology
Elzbieta Hammel, Charalampos Mantziaris, Joscha Schmitz, Ansgar Bueschges, Matthias Gruhn
Summary: This study investigated the mechanisms underlying curve walking in stick insects and found that changes in meso- and metathoracic motor activity during turning are specific to leg joints and thorax segments, can depend on the turning direction, and are mediated through changes in local central pattern generating activity.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Brian R. Noga, Patrick J. Whelan
Summary: The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) is a region found in various vertebrate species, involved in locomotion as well as processes related to the autonomic and respiratory systems. This article focuses on the pedunculopontine nucleus and cuneiform nucleus that make up the MLR and examines their connectomes from both anatomical and functional perspectives.
FRONTIERS IN NEURAL CIRCUITS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Richard A. Warren, Qianyun Zhang, Judah R. Hoffman, Edward Y. Li, Y. Kate Hong, Randy M. Bruno, Nathaniel B. Sawtell
Summary: By using machine learning for high-resolution kinematic analysis, researchers uncovered the logic behind sensory-guided locomotion in mice, showing that mice choose different kinematic strategies depending on whisker-derived estimate of obstacle location and body position and velocity. While mice rely on whiskers for obstacle avoidance, lesions of primary whisker sensory cortex have minimal impact, while manipulations of motor cortex affect the execution of chosen strategy but the decision-making process remains intact. This study highlights the potential of machine learning in analyzing naturalistic behaviors and shows that subcortical brain structures are sufficient for mediating sophisticated sensorimotor decisions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Woojoo Kim, Juliette Amauger, Jungmoon Ha, Thai Hong Pham, Anh Duc Tran, Jae Hong Lee, Jinseok Park, Piotr G. Jablonski, Ho-Young Kim, Sang-Im Lee
Summary: This study demonstrates that large water strider species do not conform to the existing theory of surface tension-dominant jumps and instead utilize surface-breaking jumps to evade underwater predators. This suggests that natural selection can disrupt the theoretical scaling relationship between prey size and jumping performance, leading to an evolutionary shift to a different physical mechanism for protection.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Robotics
Chong Hong, Ziyu Ren, Che Wang, Mingtong Li, Yingdan Wu, Dewei Tang, Wenqi Hu, Metin Sitti
Summary: The article introduces a miniature magnetic gearbox for driving wireless millimeter-scale robots. The gearbox is driven by a rotating external magnetic field, producing high torque and demonstrating high transmission efficiency. This miniature device enables various functionalities, including crawling, jumping, clamping, needle-puncturing, and syringe actions.
Article
Neurosciences
Junichi Yoshida, Maritza Onate, Leila Khatami, Jorge Vera, Farzan Nadim, Kamran Khodakhah
Summary: The cerebellum and basal ganglia are connected through direct pathways, influencing motor coordination and dopamine release, and impacting motor deficits and addictive behavior.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Gloria Brunori, Oliver B. Pelletier, Anna M. Stauffer, Janet D. Robishaw
Summary: The study reveals the importance of Gaolfb2c7/cAMP signaling in specific populations of MSNs in regulating motor behaviors, acting through D1R and A2AR to coordinate behavior. Additionally, the loss of Gaolfb2c7 in A2AR/D2R-MSNs leads to a hyperlocomotor phenotype and enhanced locomotor response to amphetamine.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kelsey J. Racicot, Christina Popic, Felipe Cunha, Dominic Wright, Rie Henriksen, Andrew N. Iwaniuk
Summary: This research quantified cell layer volumes, neuron numbers, and neuron sizes in the cerebella of chickens and junglefowl, finding that chickens have larger, more folded cerebella with more and larger granule cells compared to junglefowl. The study suggests that the chicken cerebellum can be considered a scaled-up version of the junglefowl cerebellum, but with enlarged granule cells. The findings partially support a recent theory that domestication does not affect neuronal density within brain regions, but further quantitative analyses in other domesticated species and brain regions are needed to determine if these neuroanatomical changes are typical of domestication.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Shuang Qiu, Chenxi Li, Guihua Cao, Chengfeng Xiao
Summary: This study found that mating experience in male fruit flies promoted fast and consistent locomotor activities and increased the power of episodic motor activities.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ester Anton-Galindo, Elisa Dalla Vecchia, Javier G. Orlandi, Gustavo Castro, Emilio J. Gualda, Andrew M. J. Young, Marc Guasch-Piqueras, Concepcio Arenas, Carlos Herrera-Ubeda, Jordi Garcia-Fernandez, Fernando Aguado, Pablo Loza-Alvarez, Bru Cormand, William H. J. Norton, Noelia Fernandez-Castillo
Summary: Genetic variants in YWHAZ contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Using zebrafish as a model, researchers found that YWHAZ is expressed widely in neurons during development and limited to Purkinje cells in the adult cerebellum. Knocking out YWHAZ resulted in altered neuronal activity and connectivity in the hindbrain, decreased monoamine levels, and freeze behavior in adult fish, which could be reversed with drugs targeting monoamine neurotransmission.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Review
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Ryan E. Rhodes
Summary: The article provides an overview of the multi-process action control (M-PAC) framework, which suggests three layered processes from the formation of an intention to sustained physical activity action control. The intention-behavior discordance is attributed to strategic challenges in goal pursuit and automatic tendencies. Results from observational and preliminary experimental studies generally support the proposed M-PAC framework, but future research is needed to explore the temporal dynamics between reflexive and regulatory constructs.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biology
Fabrizio Calapai, Luigi Cardia, Gioacchino Calapai, Debora Di Mauro, Fabio Trimarchi, Ilaria Ammendolia, Carmen Mannucci
Summary: CBD, the second most important cannabinoid in cannabis, has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic properties, and influences the sleep-wake cycle. Research on the impact of CBD on motor activity has been conducted, but there is currently no clear conclusion. This article reviews the effects of CBD on locomotor activity and the changes induced by other substances and diseases.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Daniela Berg, Grace F. Crotty, Jessi L. Keavney, Michael A. Schwarzschild, Tanya Simuni, Caroline Tanner
Summary: Significant progress in the understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of the prodromal phase of Parkinson disease has opened up possibilities for early therapeutic interventions. However, challenges remain in the design of prevention trials.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Felipe Cunha, Cristian Gutierrez-Ibanez, Kelsey Racicot, Douglas R. Wylie, Andrew N. Iwaniuk
Summary: The study revealed that the variations in size and shape of the cerebellum are largely influenced by neuron numbers, rather than neuron sizes. The rate of increase in neuron numbers varied across different types of neurons, highlighting the complexity of cerebellar anatomy across species. Additionally, while the folding index was a poor predictor of surface area and Purkinje cell numbers, surface area was found to be the best predictor of Purkinje cell numbers.
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yeonhwa Kim, Seong Soon Kim, Byeong Heon Park, Kyu-Seok Hwang, Myung Ae Bae, Sung-Hee Cho, Suhyun Kim, Hae-Chul Park
Summary: This study found that exposure to BPF leads to significant changes in locomotor behavior, histology, and neurochemistry in zebrafish embryos. BPF induces motor degeneration and myelination defects in zebrafish larvae, as well as alters the metabolic profiles of neurotransmitters and neurosteroids, potentially impacting locomotion and motor function.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Alberto A. Castro, Fotios Alexandros Karakostis, Lynn E. Copes, Holland E. McClendon, Aayushi P. Trivedi, Nicole E. Schwartz, Theodore Garland
Summary: The study found that chronic exercise can affect muscle attachment site morphology, but there is not always evolutionary coadaptation of muscle attachments with voluntary exercise behavior.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ismael Galvan, Tonia S. Schwartz, Theodore Garland
Summary: Evolutionary physiology, born out of the interaction between evolutionary biology and physiology, has not reached its full potential yet. By exploring new avenues and studying the potential of wild animal physiological adaptations for biomedical purposes, as well as the role of epigenetic modifications in regulating physiological traits, there is a possibility of enhancing the understanding of physiological evolution.
Article
Biology
Jessica L. Tingle, Brian M. Sherman, Theodore Garland
Summary: This study examines the locomotor kinematics and morphology of sidewinder rattlesnakes. It finds that the movement of sidewinders differs significantly from limbed animals and that larger individuals are not necessarily faster. Sidewinders lift sections of their body while others maintain ground contact during locomotion. The frequency, wavelength, and amplitude of the body wave impact speed. The study suggests that increasing frequency may be the best way to increase speed for sidewinding snakes.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Sarah E. Latchney, Marcell D. Cadney, Austin Hopkins, Theodore Garland
Summary: High runner mice (HR) have altered DNA methylation patterns of imprinted genes in the brain compared to non-selected control (C) mice. Maternal upbringing and sex also modify the DNA methylation profiles of these imprinted genes.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Andres N. Molina, Jose M. Pulgar, Enrico L. Rezende, Mauricio J. Carter
Summary: Global warming has complex effects on the Antarctic continent, with Antarctic organisms exhibiting varying degrees of sensitivity to increasing temperatures.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Marcell D. Cadney, Ralph L. Albuquerque, Nicole E. Schwartz, Monica P. McNamara, Alberto A. Castro, Margaret P. Schmill, David A. Hillis, Theodore Garland Jr
Summary: This study investigated the long-lasting effects of early-life fructose consumption in mice and found that it increased total caloric intake, body mass, and body fat during juvenile exposure. However, it had no significant effects on adult physical activity or body weight/composition. Interestingly, mice that had early-life fructose and wheel access had reduced maximal aerobic capacity in adulthood. Overall, early-life exercise had positive long-term effects, while the effects of early-life fructose were minimal.
JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Monica P. McNamara, Emily M. Venable, Marcell D. Cadney, Alberto A. Castro, Margaret P. Schmill, Lawrence Kazzazi, Rachel N. Carmody, Theodore Garland
Summary: In this study, the fecal microbial community composition and diversity were compared between a group of mice selectively bred for high wheel-running activity and a control group. The results showed that the high wheel-running mice had a higher relative abundance of the bacterial family Clostridiaceae, which differed from a previous study on rats. Additionally, the replicate lines within the high wheel-running and control groups had unique microbiomes, indicating potential random genetic drift and/or multiple adaptive responses to selection.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Ralph L. Albuquerque, Peter A. Zani, Theodore Garland
Summary: This study found that individual behavior is related to morphology and physiological function, which in turn indirectly affect behavior. On the other hand, parasite load has no direct effect on individual performance ability. Due to the low repeatability of field behaviors, the relationship between behavior and performance may be stronger than indicated by the results.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mauricio J. Carter, M. Roberto Garcia-Huidobro, Marcela Aldana, Enrico L. Rezende, Francisco Bozinovic, Cristobal Galban-Malagon, Jose M. Pulgar
Summary: Antarctic marine animals are facing extreme thermal environments and are threatened by global warming. Determining the CTmax is crucial for predicting the persistence and distribution of these species. By using TDT, we estimated CTmax at different time scales and predicted vulnerability to current thermal variation and potential heatwave scenarios. Our results showed that CTmax at 1 min was lower than the temperature in the intertidal zone, with echinoderms having higher CTmax than chordates and arthropods. Simulation results indicated that seasonal thermal variation and moderate heatwaves increased basal mortality in the intertidal zone. It is important to include exposure time when estimating CTmax to obtain more realistic parameters based on field conditions.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Mauricio J. Carter, Pablo A. Cortes, Enrico L. Rezende
Summary: By analyzing global standard metabolic rate data, we found that aquatic and terrestrial organisms exhibit different metabolic rate responses to seasonal temperature variations. Metabolic rates of aquatic organisms decrease with seasonal changes, while those of terrestrial organisms increase. This may be due to different strategies they employ to cope with temperature variations.
JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jose M. Alruiz, Ignacio Peralta-Maraver, Francisco Bozinovic, Mauro Santos, Enrico L. Rezende
Summary: By studying Drosophila simulans along a latitudinal gradient, we found that thermodynamic constraints play a crucial role in shaping thermal responses, with hotter temperatures resulting in better performance. Additionally, the effects of temperature on metabolic rate and survival were highly correlated, providing evidence of co-adaptation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christopher Dwane, Enrico L. Rezende, Oliver Tills, Juan Galindo, Emilio Rolan-Alvarez, Simon Rundle, Manuela Truebano
Summary: Thermal performance curves (TPCs) provide a framework to assess thermal sensitivity evolution in populations across latitude, but the extent to which metabolic cold adaptation (MCA) alters TPCs and upper thermal limits is unclear. We compared TPCs for cardiac activity in different latitudinal populations of Littorina saxatilis and found that the northernmost population had higher upper limits and temperatures of maximal cardiac performance, indicating the influence of physiological compensation associated with MCA. Our study highlights the importance of considering mechanistic and ecological context when interpreting TPC variation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Wilco C. E. P. Verberk, K. Natan Hoefnagel, Ignacio Peralta-Maraver, Mathieu Floury, Enrico L. Rezende
Summary: Forecasting long-term consequences of global warming requires considering thermal mortality and how heat stress interacts with other environmental stressors. A flexible analytical framework combining laboratory measurements and field temperature records is described to forecast mortality risks. The framework incorporates physiological acclimation effects, temporal scale differences, and the ecological reality of temperature fluctuations and other factors. The findings indicate a significant increase in annual mortality due to rising summer temperatures, and the effects of thermal acclimation and adequate oxygenation play a crucial role. However, even with the best-case scenario, mortality of certain species is expected to approach 100% by 2100.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Nicole E. Schwartz, Monica P. McNamara, Jocelyn M. Orozco, Jaanam O. Rashid, Angie P. Thai, Theodore Garland
Summary: Selective breeding for behavioral traits can result in significant behavioral changes without proportional modifications to underlying morphological or physiological traits.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Jessica L. Tingle, Brian M. Sherman, Theodore Garland Jr
Summary: Physical characteristics of the substrate have a significant impact on terrestrial locomotion of animals and machines. Snakes' gait is more influenced by the environment rather than their speed. Testing sidewinder rattlesnakes on different surfaces revealed that the body's waveform had longer wavelength on vinyl flooring and snakes lifted their bodies higher on sand.