Intrinsic and Extrinsic Modulation of C. elegans Locomotion

Abstract

Animal locomotion describes the coordinated self-propelled movement of a body, subject to the combined effects of internal muscle forcing and external forces. Here we use an integrated neuromechanical computational model to study the combined effects of neural modulation, mechanical modulation and modulation of the external environments on undulatory forward locomotion in the nematode C. elegans. In particular we use a proprioceptively driven neural control circuit to consider the effects of proprioception, body elasticity and environmental drag on the waveform, frequency and speed of undulations. We find qualitative differences in the frequency-wavelength relationship obtained under extrinsic modulation of the environmental fluid or body elasticity versus intrinsic modulation due to changes in the sensorimotor control. We consider possible targets of modulation by the worm and implications of our results for our understanding of the neural control of locomotion in this system.