Modification in command neural signals of an insect's odor source searching behavior on the brain-machine hybrid system

Abstract

To investigate the adaptive behavior and the underlying neural mechanisms, we focused on the insect's brain and developed the brain-machine hybrid system. The hybrid system is a mobile robot controlled by recorded neural signals related to steering motor pattern on the robot. We manipulated the motor output of the robot to introduce the rotational disturbances to the hybrid system and acquired the compensatory neural activities. Moreover, we manipulated the motor pattern of the robot during odor source orientation behavior. The moth on the robot maintained the angular velocity and succeeded in odor source localization by modifying the neural activities. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.