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Modular timer networks: abdominal interneurons controlling the chirp and pulse pattern in a cricket calling song

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Jacob, Pedro F. 

Abstract

Abstract: Chirping male crickets combine a 30 Hz pulse pattern with a 3 Hz chirp pattern to drive the rhythmic opening-closing movements of the front wings for sound production. Lesion experiments suggest two coupled modular timer-networks located along the chain of abdominal ganglia, a network in A3 and A4 generating the pulse pattern, and a network organized along with ganglia A4–A6 controlling the generation of the chirp rhythm. We analyzed neurons of the timer-networks and their synaptic connections by intracellular recordings and staining. We identified neurons spiking in phase with the chirps and pulses, or that are inhibited during the chirps. Neurons share a similar “gestalt”, regarding the position of the cell body, the dendritic arborizations and the contralateral ascending axon. Activating neurons of the pulse-timer network elicits ongoing motor activity driving the generation of pulses; this activity is not structured in the chirp pattern. Activating neurons of the chirp-timer network excites pulse-timer neurons; it drives the generation of chirps and during the chirps the pulse pattern is produced. Our results support the hypothesis that two modular networks along the abdominal ganglion chain control the cricket calling song, a pattern generating network in the mesothoracic ganglion may not be required.

Description

Funder: University of Cambridge

Keywords

Original Paper, Acoustic communication, Central pattern generator, Identified interneurons, Modular network, Timing of rhythms

Journal Title

Journal of Comparative Physiology A

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0340-7594
1432-1351

Volume Title

206

Publisher

Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Sponsorship
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/G018723/1)
Associação Viver a Ciência (SFRH/BD/51901/2012)