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11:18
Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks
Published on: March 2, 2015
Revisiting nerve nets: functional organization and evolutionary implications
Kei Jokura1,2, Gáspár Jékely3
1Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), Okazaki, 444-8787, Japan. jokura@nibb.ac.jp.
The EMBO Journal
|July 23, 2026
Summary
Nerve nets, a widespread nervous system organization, offer unique advantages for animal coordination. New research reveals their complex cellular structure and multi-layered signaling, driving sophisticated behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Evolutionary Biology
- Zoology
Background:
- Nerve nets, characterized by scattered neurons and mesh-like projections, are a common nervous system organization.
- Their diffuse conductivity and apparent simplicity are key in theories of nervous system evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the anatomical and functional organization of nerve nets.
- To revisit evolutionary theories of nerve nets using new data.
- To explore the role of nerve nets in animal coordination.
Main Methods:
- Review of anatomical and functional studies on nerve nets.
- Discussion of transgenesis and volume electron microscopy for cellular analysis.
- Analysis of excitation spread and non-synaptic volume transmission.
Main Results:
- Transgenesis and electron microscopy reveal fine-scale cellular organization.
- Excitation spreads within nerve nets, enabling multi-layered signaling and complex behaviors.
- Ctenophores utilize syncytial nerve nets for distributed control, showcasing convergent evolution.
Conclusions:
- Nerve nets are not merely primitive structures but an enduring organizational principle.
- They offer unique advantages for tissue-scale coordination and complex behaviors.
- Nerve nets represent a sophisticated system for animal coordination with significant evolutionary benefits.
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