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Biarticular Muscles Improve the Stability of a Neuromechanical Model of the Rat Hindlimb

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Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems (Living Machines 2023)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 14158))

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Abstract

This study introduces a novel neuromechanical model of rat hindlimbs with biarticular muscles producing walking movements without ground contact. The design of the control network is informed by the findings from our previous investigations into two-layer central pattern generators (CPGs). Specifically, we examined one plausible synthetic nervous system (SNS) designed to actuate 3 biarticular muscles, including the Biceps femoris posterior (BFP) and Rectus femoris (RF), both of which provide torque about the hip and knee joints. We conducted multiple perturbation tests on the simulation model to investigate the contribution of these two biarticular muscles in stabilizing perturbed hindlimb walking movements. We tested the BFP and RF muscles under three conditions: active, only passive tension, and fully disabled. Our results show that when these two biarticular muscles were active, they not only reduced the impact of external torques, but also facilitated rapid coordination of motion phases. As a result, the hindlimb model with biarticular muscles demonstrated faster recovery compared to our previous monoarticular muscle model.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from the NSF DBI 2015317 as part of the NSF/CIHR/DFG/FRQ/UKRIMRC Next Generation Networks for the Neuroscience Program.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Kaiyu Deng, Hillel J. Chiel & Roger D. Quinn

  2. Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA

    Alexander J. Hunt

Authors
  1. Kaiyu Deng
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  2. Alexander J. Hunt
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  3. Hillel J. Chiel
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  4. Roger D. Quinn
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kaiyu Deng .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, Italy

    Fabian Meder

  2. Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA

    Alexander Hunt

  3. Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy

    Laura Margheri

  4. Radboud University Nijmegen, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Anna Mura

  5. Italian Institute of Technology, Genova, Italy

    Barbara Mazzolai

Appendix

Appendix

List of Acronyms

CPG:

Central pattern generator

SNS:

Synthetic nervous system

BFP:

Biceps femoris posterior

RF:

Rectus femoris

GA:

Gastrocnemii

IP:

Iliopsoas

BPF:

Biceps femoris anterior

VA:

Vastii

SO:

Soleus

TA:

Tibialis anterior

RG:

Rhythm generator

PF:

Pattern formation

MN:

Motoneuron

IN:

Interneuron

RE:

Renshaw cell

EXT:

Extensor

FLX:

Flexor

AD:

Adaptor

Table 1. Neural parameters
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Table 2. Synapse parameters.
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Deng, K., Hunt, A.J., Chiel, H.J., Quinn, R.D. (2023). Biarticular Muscles Improve the Stability of a Neuromechanical Model of the Rat Hindlimb. In: Meder, F., Hunt, A., Margheri, L., Mura, A., Mazzolai, B. (eds) Biomimetic and Biohybrid Systems. Living Machines 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 14158. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39504-8_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39504-8_2

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