Parallel locomotor control strategies in mice and flies

TL;DR

This study reveals that mice and flies share similar continuous limb coordination patterns, indicating common neural control principles underlying locomotion across species.

Contribution

It demonstrates that mice and flies exhibit comparable low-dimensional, continuous locomotor coordination patterns, suggesting shared neural control strategies.

Findings

Mice and flies show similar limb coordination structures.

Both species exhibit continuous, variable gait patterns.

Shared principles of neural control are suggested.

Abstract

Our understanding of the neural basis of locomotor behavior can be informed by careful quantification of animal movement. Classical descriptions of legged locomotion have defined discrete locomotor gaits, characterized by distinct patterns of limb movement. Recent technical advances have enabled increasingly detailed characterization of limb kinematics across many species, imposing tighter constraints on neural control. Here, we highlight striking similarities between coordination patterns observed in two genetic model organisms: the laboratory mouse and Drosophila. Both species exhibit continuously-variable coordination patterns with similar low-dimensional structure, suggesting shared principles for limb coordination and descending neural control.