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The neural mechanisms for switching between alternating activation and synchronous activation of antagonist motorneurones

Reference	S04977
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr William Heitler
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	University of St Andrews
Department	Biology
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	118,723
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/12/1995
End date	01/12/1997
Duration	24 months

Abstract

A change in gait in a locomotory system is often accompanied by an abrupt change in the phase coordination between antagonist motorneurons. An example of this is found in the grasshopper; when a grasshopper walks, the antagonist motorneurons controlling the hind tibiae are activated in alternation, but when it jumps there is co-activation of these neurons. This project has the following aims. (i) To investigate the neural mechanism of the switch from alternating activation to co-activation. (ii) To investigate the neural mechanisms producing sustained bursts of co-activation, especially the possibility of neuromodulation of membrane/synapse properties. (iii) To investigate the neural mechanism terminating co- activation. (iv) To develop an in vitro culture of two antagonist motorneurons which in vivo have a powerful excitatory chemical synapse between them.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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