Feedback control in active sensing: rat exploratory whisking is modulated by environmental contact
Feedback control in active sensing: rat exploratory whisking is modulated by environmental contact
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DOI：
10.1098/rspb.2006.0347
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发表时间：
2007-04-22
影响因子：
4.7
通讯作者：
Prescott, Tony J.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Mitchinson, Ben;Martin, Chris J.;Prescott, Tony J.
老鼠来回地挥动它们的胡须，通过与环境结构的接触来产生触觉信息。对这些触须接触产生的信号进行操作的神经过程被广泛研究，作为一般的感知模型，尽管缺乏对产生这种信号的自然环境的详细了解。我们使用数字视频跟踪和无线记录的mystyreneemyogram信号，以评估在探索简单环境的自由移动动物的胡须物体接触搅拌的影响。我们的研究结果表明，接触导致减少的protraction（向前胡须运动）的一侧的动物同侧的障碍和增加的protraction对侧。减少同侧延长发生迅速，并在相同的搅拌周期作为初始接触。我们的结论是，胡须的运动是积极控制，以增加环境接触的可能性，同时限制这种相互作用，涉及一个温柔的触摸。搅拌模式的产生是在强反馈控制下进行的，这对于理解到达上游神经过程的信号的性质具有重要意义。
Rats sweep their facial whiskers back and forth to generate tactile sensory information through contact with environmental structure. The neural processes operating on the signals arising from these whisker contacts are widely studied as a model of sensing in general, even though detailed knowledge of the natural circumstances under which such signals are generated is lacking. We used digital video tracking and wireless recording of mystacial electromyogram signals to assess the effects of whisker-object contact on whisking in freely moving animals exploring simple environments. Our results show that contact leads to reduced protraction (forward whisker motion) on the side of the animal ipsilateral to an obstruction and increased protraction on the contralateral side. Reduced ipsilateral protraction occurs rapidly and in the same whisk cycle as the initial contact. We conclude that whisker movements are actively controlled so as to increase the likelihood of environmental contacts while constraining such interactions to involve a gentle touch. That whisking pattern generation is under strong feedback control has important implications for understanding the nature of the signals reaching upstream neural processes.