Adult, sex-specific behavior characterized by elevated neuronal functional complexity

Einat Fuchs, Eyal Hulata, Eshel Ben-Jacob, Amir Ayali*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Adult, sex-specific behaviors are good models for context-specific behavioral patterns. Here, we focus on a unique example: locust oviposition. The neural network's rhythmic output can be activated at all life stages, including embryonic, in both females and males. All recorded patterns, independent of age and sex, showed similar basic statistics. Activity density plots and spectral analysis, however, revealed that oscillations in burst rates recorded from females show greater variation quantities than those recorded from males. Furthermore, only the neural output recorded from sexually mature females was characterized by significantly elevated functional complexity. Thus, while the neural network has inherent potential to generate motor activities at different levels of complexity, only the proper internal-environmental and behavioral context triggers expression of its full potential of information capacity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1153-1158
Number of pages6
JournalNeuroReport
Volume17
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2006

Keywords

  • Central pattern generator
  • Functional complexity
  • Information capacity
  • Locust
  • Oviposition

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