EFFECTS OF CIRCUM-ESOPHAGEAL LESION ON THE BEHAVIOR OF THE STICK INSECT CARAUSIUS-MOROSUS .2. CHANGES IN WALKING COORDINATION

The co-ordination of the walking behaviour of decerebrate stick insects is examined and compared with normal behaviour. The walks are fully coordinated but undergo subtle changes in timing, have a longer average step period and show momentary pauses of 50 ms during the time course of protraction movements. In addition a new intersegmental reflex has been discovered. This tactile reflex is used to avoid errors in co-ordination that would be produced by posterior legs stepping onto the tarsi of the legs in front. The reflex has a latency of 100 ms and is easily observed in lesioned animals but is also active, although seldom seen, in slowly walking intact animals. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.