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Case Studies in Forcing Small Motor Neural Circuits

Codianni, Marcello G (2022) Case Studies in Forcing Small Motor Neural Circuits. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The goal of this work is to explore a variety of forcing scenarios in small motor control neural circuits. Numerous motor circuits interact to produce coordinated movement, and forcing represents a convenient way to abstract the activity of other circuits so that the analysis remains tractable. First, we analyze a pacemaking circuit responsible for joint co-ordination. This circuit receives periodic bottom-up forcing from ground contact signalling. We then modulate the circuit’s pacemaking properties through top-down input, and examine the range in which this circuits output remains entrained to the forcing, allowing the animal to keep its limbs coordinated during changing pace. Next, we turn our attention to a patho-logical case of motor tics, where an unknown forcing signal produces stereotyped outputs. We build a detailed neural model which expresses a great variety of observed behavior, and carefully analyze how different current channels in the model can account for these different behaviors. We then link it to another neuron model in a small, indirectly coupled circuit and study the response to different forcing profiles, and explain the model responses to this forcing, offering mechanisms by which the motor tic may be explained. Finally, we observe that during sustained, but modulated, forcing, the detailed model exhibits chaotic behavior. We simplify the model to the key components in generating the chaotic firing, and perform mathematical analysis utilizing tools from dynamical systems to examine the route to chaos through examining its bifurcation structure and Lyapunov exponent approximations.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Codianni, Marcello Gmac384@pitt.edumac384
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairRubin, Jonjonrubin@pitt.edujonrubin
Committee MemberErmentrout, Bardbard@pitt.edubard
Committee MemberSwigon, Davidswigon@pitt.eduswigon
Committee MemberTurner, Robertrturner@pitt.edurturner
Date: 17 June 2022
Date Type: Publication
Defense Date: 30 November 2021
Approval Date: 17 June 2022
Submission Date: 16 November 2021
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages: 141
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Mathematics
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: Mathematics, Neuroscience, Conductance-based modelling, Striatum, Motor Control, Stick Insect
Date Deposited: 17 Jun 2022 15:56
Last Modified: 17 Jun 2022 15:56
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/42166

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