QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s):
Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents

First published online January 8, 2007
Journal of Experimental Biology 210, 238-260 (2007)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2007
doi: 10.1242/jeb.02654

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplementary Material Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Neustadter, D. M. Articles by Chiel, H. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Neustadter, D. M. Articles by Chiel, H. J. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The kinematics of multifunctionality: comparisons of biting and swallowing in Aplysia californica

David M. Neustadter^1,*, Robert L. Herman², Richard F. Drushel³, David W. Chestek¹ and Hillel J. Chiel^3,4,1,

¹ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
² Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
³ Department of Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
⁴ Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA

Author for correspondence (e-mail: hjc{at}case.edu)

Accepted 7 November 2006

What are the mechanisms of multifunctionality, i.e. the use of the same peripheral structures for multiple behaviors? We studied this question using the multifunctional feeding apparatus of the marine mollusk Aplysia californica, in which the same muscles mediate biting (an attempt to grasp food) and swallowing (ingestion of food). Biting and swallowing responses were compared using magnetic resonance imaging of intact, behaving animals and a three-dimensional kinematic model. Biting is associated with larger amplitude protractions of the grasper (radula/odontophore) than swallowing, and smaller retractions. Larger biting protractions than in swallowing appear to be due to a more anterior position of the grasper as the behavior begins, a larger amplitude contraction of protractor muscle I2, and contraction of the posterior portion of the I1/I3/jaw complex. The posterior I1/I3/jaw complex may be context-dependent, i.e. its mechanical context changes the direction of the force it exerts. Thus, the posterior of I1/I3 may aid protraction near the peak of biting, whereas the entire I1/I3/jaw complex acts as a retractor during swallowing. In addition, larger amplitude closure of the grasper during swallowing allows an animal to exert more force as it ingests food. These results demonstrate that differential deployment of the periphery can mediate multifunctionality.

Key words: feeding behavior, biomechanics, kinematics, mollusk, muscular hydrostat

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. J. Chiel, L. H. Ting, O. Ekeberg, and M. J. Z. Hartmann The Brain in Its Body: Motor Control and Sensing in a Biomechanical Context J. Neurosci., October 14, 2009; 29(41): 12807 - 12814. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Levitan, L. C. Lyons, A. Perelman, C. L. Green, B. Motro, A. Eskin, and A. J. Susswein Training with inedible food in Aplysia causes expression of C/EBP in the buccal but not cerebral ganglion Learn. Mem., May 28, 2008; 15(6): 412 - 416. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Hurwitz, A. Ophir, A. Korngreen, J. Koester, and A. J. Susswein Currents Contributing to Decision Making in Neurons B31/B32 of Aplysia J Neurophysiol, February 1, 2008; 99(2): 814 - 830. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Nishikawa, A. A. Biewener, P. Aerts, A. N. Ahn, H. J. Chiel, M. A. Daley, T. L. Daniel, R. J. Full, M. E. Hale, T. L. Hedrick, et al. Neuromechanics: an integrative approach for understanding motor control Integr. Comp. Biol., July 1, 2007; 47(1): 16 - 54. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]