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Fig. 1. (A) Pattern of flexor and extensor muscle activity recorded from a conscious adult mouse walking on a treadmill. Adapted from Pearson et al. (Pearson et al, 2005) with permission. (B) A hindlimbs-attached preparation can be used with electromyographs (EMGs) or electroneurograms (ENGs) to record activity from spinal networks (Pearson et al., 2003; Whelan et al., 2000). The thoracosacral spinal cord is preserved in this preparation. ENGs can also be recorded from the lateral gastrocnemius (LGS) and common peroneal (CP) nerve, which allow flexor and extensor activity to be recorded as shown in the example (Whelan et al., 2000). Note that the flexor and extensor pattern produced by the in vitro neonatal mouse preparation is qualitatively similar to that produced by adult mice walking on a treadmill. (C) Isolated spinal cord preparation commonly used to record locomotor-like patterns in vitro. Alternation between ipsilateral L2 and L5 ventral root recordings corresponds to flexor-extensor activity, while segmental alternation between the left (l) and right (r) L2 roots reflects left-right alternation (Whelan et al., 2000). Rhythm evoked using a combination of serotonin (5-HT), N-methyl-D/L-aspartate (NMA) and dopamine (see Jiang et al., 1999). TA, Tibialis anterior; GS, gastrocnemius

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