MOBILITY ENGINEERING Produced by SAE Media Group
MOBILITY ENGINEERING
Magazines
Magazine cover

Current Issue

Archives

Magazine cover

Current Issue

Archives

Magazine cover

Current Issue

Archives

Magazine cover

Current Issue

Archives

Circuit Models for Robust, Adaptive Neural Control

Understanding a nematode's simple circuit could provide a foundation for understanding much more complex behaviors.

This project seeks to reproduce the neural circuits used by the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans for locomotion. Caenorhabditis elegans is a small (~1.2 millimeter) nematode found in rotting fruit in many parts of the world. It feeds on bacteria and is neither parasitic nor pathogenic. Although capable of sexual reproduction, most laboratory strains reproduce primarily as self-fertilizing hermaphrodites, with each adult hermaphrodite producing approximately 300 progeny (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Basic anatomy of an adult hermaphrodite C elegans nematode.

C. elegans is a very simple organism, with only 959 somatic cells in the adult hermaphrodite. Although the total number of cells is small, they are differentiated into the standard array of tissues: 302 neurons, 95 body muscle cells, 32 gut cells, etc. In addition, the position, morphology, and lineage of each cell are reproducible from animal to animal. Because of the small size of the animal, the relatively small number of neurons, and the reproducible nature of the nervous system, it has been possible to provide an almost-complete synaptic connectivity map of the adult hermaphrodite nervous system (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Synaptic connectivity map of C. elegans nervous system.

Utilizing only 113 neurons, this simple circuit drives the 95 body wall muscles to generate surprisingly complex and adaptive locomotion behavior. Recent advances in C. elegans electrophysiological techniques, which have resulted in a surge of new data, have made it possible to build an accurate computational model of C. elegans locomotion.

Taking the perspective that the best way to understand something is to construct it, this interdisciplinary project aims to reproduce the locomotion neural circuitry used by C. elegans to drive a virtual model in a highly detailed 3D C. elegans simulator. The goal of this project, therefore, is to develop an understanding of the basic motifs used by nature in developing complex, adaptive control systems. This goal can be further refined into three specific project objectives:

  1. Develop a biologically accurate computational model of the locomotion circuitry used by C. elegans.
  2. Validate the model by demonstrating that it produces the various locomotion modalities in a physics-based simulation environment.
  3. Verify that the model accurately reproduces the robustness and adaptability seen in the living organism using comparative video analysis.

It is believed that the locomotion circuit used by C. elegans forms the basis for a number of more complex circuits found in higher order organisms. In other words, understanding this simple circuit could provide a foundation for understanding much more complex behaviors.

This work was done by Roger Mailler, The University of Tulsa, for the Air Force Research Laboratory. AFRL-0269

Topics:
Adaptive control Anatomy Bacteria Biological sciences Defense Electronic control systems Electronics & Computers Instrumentation Medical, health and wellness Medical, health, and wellness Nervous system Physical Sciences Test & Measurement
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
Document cover
Circuit Models for Robust, Adaptive Neural Control

(reference AFRL-0269) is currently available for download from the TSP library.

Don't have an account?

More From SAE Media Group

    Magazine cover
    Aerospace & Defense Technology Magazine

    This article first appeared in the February, 2019 issue of Aerospace & Defense Technology Magazine (Vol. 4 No. 1).

    Read more articles from this issue here.

    Read more articles from the archives here.

    Overview

    The document titled "Circuit Models for Robust, Adaptive Neural Control" is a final performance report authored by Roger Mailler and Zhao-Wen Wang from the University of Tulsa, covering the research period from February 15, 2015, to May 14, 2018. The report is unclassified and approved for public release.

    The primary focus of the research is on the neural circuits of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a model organism with a simple nervous system comprising 113 neurons that control its locomotion through 95 body wall muscles. The study aims to develop circuit models that can provide insights into robust and adaptive neural control mechanisms, which are essential for understanding how simple neural networks can produce complex behaviors.

    The report outlines the research objectives, technical summaries, and funding summaries categorized by cost. It details the methodologies employed, including the development of software tools such as the CNAS Tracker, which utilizes Dynamic Link Libraries from various manufacturers to control imaging devices like cameras and microscopes. This software facilitates the tracking and analysis of C. elegans movements under different lighting conditions, contributing to the understanding of its locomotion.

    Additionally, the report includes a summary of archival publications resulting from the research, highlighting significant findings related to the adhesion energy of C. elegans and the functional roles of specific potassium channels in its neural circuits. Notable publications include studies on the amplification of chemical transmission at mixed electrical-chemical synapses and modeling action potentials in C. elegans body wall muscles.

    The report also addresses administrative aspects, such as the absence of discoveries or patent disclosures during the reporting period, and notes that there were no changes in research objectives or program officers. A three-month no-cost extension was granted, allowing for the completion of the research objectives.

    Overall, the document serves as a comprehensive account of the research conducted on C. elegans neural circuits, emphasizing the significance of understanding simple neural systems in the broader context of neural control and behavior. The findings have implications for both basic neuroscience and potential applications in robotics and artificial intelligence, where adaptive control systems are crucial.

    Top Stories

    INSIDERDefense

    Feature Image F-35 Proves Nuke Drop Performance in Stockpile Flight Testing

    INSIDERMaterials

    Feature Image Using Ultrabright X-Rays to Test Materials for Ultrafast Aircraft

    INSIDERManufacturing & Prototyping

    Feature Image Stevens Researchers Test Morkovin's Hypothesis for Major Hypersonic Flight...

    INSIDERManufacturing & Prototyping

    Feature Image New 3D-Printable Nanocomposite Prevents Overheating in Military Electronics

    INSIDERRF & Microwave Electronics

    Feature Image L3Harris Starts Low Rate Production Of New F-16 Viper Shield

    INSIDERRF & Microwave Electronics

    Feature Image F-22 Pilot Controls Drone With Tablet

    Webcasts