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Integration of local limb control and global coordination

Establish how segmental ganglia computations and central brain signals integrate in Hypsibius exemplaris to produce cohesive whole-body behavior during transitions between independent limb movements and coordinated multi-limbed gaits.

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Background

Tardigrades exhibit both independent limb actions and coordinated gaits, implying hierarchical control. The paper explicitly states that how these modes are integrated is unknown.

Clarifying the interaction between local ganglia and central brain control can reveal principles of modular computation and distributed motor coordination in compact nervous systems.

References

How the integration of these movement modes produces cohesive whole-body behavior remains unknown.

— The tardigrade as an emerging model organism for systems neuroscience (2501.06606 - Lyons et al., 11 Jan 2025) in Section I. Scientific Rationale, subheading "How do top-down and bottom-up motor control systems interact?"