The central nervous organization underlying control of antagonistic muscles in the crayfish. II. Coding of position by command fibers

Abstract

Abstract Single central interneurons that produce flexion or extension in the crayfish abdomen act in a coordinated fashion upon several ganglia. Each of several elements evoking a similar type of movement has a unique distribution of output to ganglionic centers: thus one of them may produce primarily rostral extension or flexion, another a primarily caudal movement, still another a more general one. Each motor command therefore appears to code for a specific abdominal geometry. Some units produce complex, cyclic motor outflow to postural muscles of the abdomen, or to the appendages.