A conserved network for control of arthropod exteroceptive optical flow reflexes during locomotion

Abstract

We have developed an exteroceptive reflex network of sensory interneurons and command neurons that simulates arthropod optical reflexes based on current ethological and neurophysiological models. The simple neural network was instantiated in software with discrete-time map-based neurons and synapses and can mediate four forms of optomotor reflexes in arthropods: (1) translational responses to pure translational optic flow; (2) rotational responses to pure angular rotation and (3) combinations of translation and rotation that occur during obstacle avoidance and (4) yaw. Simple neural networks are well suited for controlling robots and can be used to test neurophysiological hypotheses, particularly related to sensory fusion in arthropods. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.