Intra- and intersegmental neural network architectures determining rhythmic motor activity in insect locomotion

Using the phase reduction of an intersegmental network model of stick insect locomotion presented in our previous work (Yeldesbay et al. (2017) [22]), we built a reduced model of the intra- and intersegmental network controlling levator-depressor activity in the meso- and metathoracic ganglia. By examining the intra- and intersegmental phase differences in the model we identified the properties of the network couplings that replicate the results observed in the experiments. We applied the theoretical analysis to escape type CPGs and revealed a set of possible contra- and ipsilateral synaptic connections. Finally, we defined general features of the couplings between CPGs of any type that maintain the phase relations observed in the experiments.