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Closed-Loop Control of Active Sensing Movements Regulates Sensory Slip
Debojyoti Biswas1, Luke A Arend2, Sarah A Stamper3
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
Current Biology : CB
|December 4, 2018
Summary
Active sensing uses movements to gain information. Electric fish control their movements to maintain constant sensory slip, demonstrating a dual-controller system for information acquisition and position maintenance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Animal Behavior
- Sensory Biology
Background:
- Active sensing is crucial for information gathering across species.
- Motor commands in active sensing influence sensory feedback.
- Control mechanisms linking movement and feedback remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the control of active sensing movements in relation to sensory feedback.
- Determine how freely swimming fish regulate sensory information acquisition.
Main Methods:
- Developed an experimental setup for weakly electric fish (Eigenmannia virescens).
- Modulated reafferent feedback gain by adjusting refuge position based on fish movement.
- Utilized real-time videography to measure fish position.
Main Results:
- Fish robustly regulated sensory slip through closed-loop control of active sensing movements.
- Fish adjusted fore-aft swimming movements to maintain constant sensory slip despite a 4-fold change in feedback gain.
- Sensory slip magnitude was influenced by the presence or absence of visual cues.
Conclusions:
- Weakly electric fish employ a dual-controller system for active sensing.
- One controller regulates sensory feedback acquisition, while the other maintains position.
- This control structure may be a general principle in animal behavior.
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