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S. T. Nichols et al.
visual stimuli. Preliminary efforts suggest that our model can be tuned to lessen
impact of visual stimuli, and bring both the multimodal and visual experiments
into better agreement with the observed animal data.
In summary, our findings indicate that there are similarities between the
modeled behavior and actual behavior, demonstrating that the elliptical model
can 1) be used to represent the distributed receptors along a leech’s body, and
2) provide a neural representation that can perform similar behaviors. It also
shows how neural activity can be linked to observed behaviors. It is especially
encouraging that our model, an untuned and crudely simplified representation
of a nervous-system response, is able to replicate actual animal behavior. This
suggests that our model can be used as a complementary research tool alongside
leech behavioral experiments. Combined with the results of [13], it also suggests
that this approach might be leveraged to develop novel man-made navigation
systems. A key feature of our model is that there is no explicit predefined map
of the environment, yet with relatively simple processing, the agent is able to
find the goal. Future experiments will vary the model’s parameters in order to
better validate the model against real-word behavioral data, particularly the
visual and multimodal experiments. Additionally, other behavioral algorithms,
and more realistic neural representations (e.g., conductance-based models [19],
spiking neural networks [17], dynamic neural fields [16]) will be implemented,
tested, and compared to both this simple model, and animal experimental data.
References
1. Harley, C.M., Asplen, M.K.: Annelid vision. Oxford Research Encyclopedias (2018)
2. Hochner, B.: An embodied view of octopus neurobiology. Curr. Biol. 22(20), R887–
R892 (2012)
3. McDonnell, M.D., et al.: Engineering intelligent electronic systems based on computational neuroscience [scanning the issue]. Proc. IEEE 102(5), 646–651 (2014)
4. Lockery, S.R., Kristan, W.B.: Distributed processing of sensory information in the
leech. I. Input- output relations of the local bending reflex. J. Neurosci. 10(6),
1811–1815 (1990)
5. Kristan, W.B., Calabrese, R.L., Friesen, W.O.: Neural control of leech behavior.
Prog. Neurobiol. 76, 279–327 (2005)
6. Wagenaar, D.A.: A classic model animal in the 21st century: recent lessons from
the leech nervous system. J. Exp. Biol. 218, 3353–3359 (2015)
7. Moshtagh-Khorasani, M., Miller, E.W., Torre, V.: The spontaneous electrical activity of neurons in leech ganglia. Physiol. Rep. 1, e00089 (2013)
8. Harley, C.M., Cienfuegos, J., Wagenaar, D.A.: Developmentally regulated multisensory integration for prey localization in the medicinal leech. J. Theor. Biol. 214,
3801–3807 (2011)
9. Harley, C.M., Wagenaar, D.A.: Scanning behavior in the medicinal leech Hirudo
verbana. PLoS One 9(1), e86120 (2014)
10. Lehmkuhl, A.M., Muthusamy, A., Wagenaar, D.A.: Responses to mechanically and
visually cued water waves in the nervous system of the medicinal leech. J. Exp.
Biol. 221(4), jeb17172 (2018)
11. Jensen, K.K.: Light-dependent orientation responses in animals can be explained
by a model of compass cue integration. J. Theor. Biol. 262, 129–141 (2010)
S. T. Nichols et al.
visual stimuli. Preliminary efforts suggest that our model can be tuned to lessen
impact of visual stimuli, and bring both the multimodal and visual experiments
into better agreement with the observed animal data.
In summary, our findings indicate that there are similarities between the
modeled behavior and actual behavior, demonstrating that the elliptical model
can 1) be used to represent the distributed receptors along a leech’s body, and
2) provide a neural representation that can perform similar behaviors. It also
shows how neural activity can be linked to observed behaviors. It is especially
encouraging that our model, an untuned and crudely simplified representation
of a nervous-system response, is able to replicate actual animal behavior. This
suggests that our model can be used as a complementary research tool alongside
leech behavioral experiments. Combined with the results of [13], it also suggests
that this approach might be leveraged to develop novel man-made navigation
systems. A key feature of our model is that there is no explicit predefined map
of the environment, yet with relatively simple processing, the agent is able to
find the goal. Future experiments will vary the model’s parameters in order to
better validate the model against real-word behavioral data, particularly the
visual and multimodal experiments. Additionally, other behavioral algorithms,
and more realistic neural representations (e.g., conductance-based models [19],
spiking neural networks [17], dynamic neural fields [16]) will be implemented,
tested, and compared to both this simple model, and animal experimental data.
References
1. Harley, C.M., Asplen, M.K.: Annelid vision. Oxford Research Encyclopedias (2018)
2. Hochner, B.: An embodied view of octopus neurobiology. Curr. Biol. 22(20), R887–
R892 (2012)
3. McDonnell, M.D., et al.: Engineering intelligent electronic systems based on computational neuroscience [scanning the issue]. Proc. IEEE 102(5), 646–651 (2014)
4. Lockery, S.R., Kristan, W.B.: Distributed processing of sensory information in the
leech. I. Input- output relations of the local bending reflex. J. Neurosci. 10(6),
1811–1815 (1990)
5. Kristan, W.B., Calabrese, R.L., Friesen, W.O.: Neural control of leech behavior.
Prog. Neurobiol. 76, 279–327 (2005)
6. Wagenaar, D.A.: A classic model animal in the 21st century: recent lessons from
the leech nervous system. J. Exp. Biol. 218, 3353–3359 (2015)
7. Moshtagh-Khorasani, M., Miller, E.W., Torre, V.: The spontaneous electrical activity of neurons in leech ganglia. Physiol. Rep. 1, e00089 (2013)
8. Harley, C.M., Cienfuegos, J., Wagenaar, D.A.: Developmentally regulated multisensory integration for prey localization in the medicinal leech. J. Theor. Biol. 214,
3801–3807 (2011)
9. Harley, C.M., Wagenaar, D.A.: Scanning behavior in the medicinal leech Hirudo
verbana. PLoS One 9(1), e86120 (2014)
10. Lehmkuhl, A.M., Muthusamy, A., Wagenaar, D.A.: Responses to mechanically and
visually cued water waves in the nervous system of the medicinal leech. J. Exp.
Biol. 221(4), jeb17172 (2018)
11. Jensen, K.K.: Light-dependent orientation responses in animals can be explained
by a model of compass cue integration. J. Theor. Biol. 262, 129–141 (2010)