RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Long-Lasting Memories of Obstacles Guide Leg Movements in the Walking Cat
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 1175
OP 1178
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4458-05.2006
VO 26
IS 4
A1 D. A. McVea
A1 K. G. Pearson
YR 2006
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/26/4/1175.abstract
AB We examined the ways in which memories of previously seen obstacles can alter the stepping of walking cats. Cats were paused after the forelegs, but not the hindlegs, had stepped over an obstacle. Near the beginning of a variable delay period, the obstacle was lowered. On the subsequent step, the path of the hindlegs allowed us to make inferences about whether the memory of the obstacle was influencing leg movements. We present two main findings. First, the memory of the obstacle persisted for the duration that the animal straddled the original location of the obstacle. In one instance, this interval was 10 min. Second, this memory includes information regarding the size and position of the obstacle relative to the animal. This information is used to plan foot placement and to redirect the step in mid-swing to avoid the previous position of the obstacle.