Articles tagged with Animal Locomotion
Researchers used high-resolution fossil data to analyze the humerus bone of early tetrapods, finding that they had adaptations indicating some ability to move on land. The study suggests that terrestrial ability coincided with the origin of limbs, providing new insights into the water-to-land transition in vertebrate evolution.
Researchers at Peking University have discovered a simple rule explaining how fish save energy by interacting with vortices shed by neighbors. The study was conducted using high-fidelity robotic fish and verified in real fish, suggesting the universal adoption of this mechanism in biological systems.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have developed a squid-like robot that can swim rapidly and efficiently, taking photos of coral and fish in the process. The soft robot uses jet propulsion to maneuver and achieve speeds of up to half a mile per hour.
Scientists developed a new automated movement-tracking system, LocoMouse, to capture fine details of locomotion in mice. The study identified highly-detailed 'locomotor signatures' for two mouse models, providing a roadmap for linking neurological and locomotor deficits.
The Solo 8 robot, designed by NYU Tandon and Max Planck Institute, is a low-cost, easy-to-assemble quadruped that can be upgraded and modified. It enables researchers to perform complex actions like walking, jumping, and navigating terrain, making sophisticated robotics available to all.
A new study found that the mechanics of rib movements in lizards facilitate locomotion, which was later co-opted for breathing. The researchers captured 3D motion of lizard ribs and vertebrae using XROMM, revealing a twisting forward and backward pattern similar to inhalation and exhalation.
Researchers developed a new robot called the Mini Rover that can climb hills covered with loose material and avoid getting stuck. Using a complex motion called rear rotator pedaling, the rover combines paddling, walking, and wheel spinning motions to maintain forward progress.
Researchers developed an optical brain-to-brain interface that supports fast and accurate information transmission for locomotion control. The interface uses fiber photometry to record population Ca2+ signals from identified neurons, achieving a three-fold increase in information transfer rates compared to previous BtBIs.
A team of biologists and engineers used computer simulation to explore the core brain-body question of how different-sized limbs and muscles perform identical fine-motor tasks. They found that sensory feedback is crucial for controlling body movement, particularly in electric fish.
A novel principle of organisation has been discovered in the spinal cord, which coordinates locomotion by forming three recurrent rhythm-generating circuit modules acting as gears. This discovery provides new insights into how brain commands are translated into rhythmic and appropriately paced locomotion.
Researchers propose a sampling regime inspired by geostatistics that includes regular and random intermediate points to capture fine-scale behaviors. This approach provides more accurate estimates of movement parameters than traditional regular sampling regimes.
A novel therapeutic target for promoting neuroprotection has been identified in the lumbar circuit below a spinal cord injury, suggesting potential hope for restoring motor function. The discovery uses animal models to show that neuromodulation of interrupted lumbar motor circuits with neurotrophic therapy improves locomotor performance.
The discovery of Aegicetus gehennae sheds light on the transition from foot-powered to tail-powered swimming in whales. The new genus and species is found to be more fully aquatic, with adaptations indicating a transitional stage between early and modern whale locomotion.
The study reveals that locomotion mode is a strong predictor of cerebellar size, shape, neuron organization, and gene expression levels, indicating a specific type of brain shared by animals with similar lifestyles. High-definition 3D models of lizard and snake brains were used to uncover these correlations.
A simple computational model explains why different four-legged animals adopt similar gaits, revealing that walking at slow speeds and running or trotting at intermediate speeds are globally optimal strategies. The results support the idea that mammals utilize movement strategies that optimize energy use when they move.
A graduate student's essay explores why there are no animals with three legs, citing the challenges of stability and balance. Thomson notes that tripod stances and three-limbed movement exist in some animals, but the evolutionary pressures favor bilateral symmetry.
The project aims to determine the forces that dictate underwater walking, shedding light on the colonization of land by animals. By studying Spanish ribbed newts, researchers hope to gain insight into the biomechanics of animal movement.
A novel soft robot with color-changing capabilities has been developed by mimicking the chameleon's skin cells. The robot can sense its environment and exhibit dynamic color change in response. Its unique properties make it suitable for sensing, communication, and disguise in soft robotics.
Researchers at EPFL have developed Tribots, three-legged robots that can jump, communicate, and work together like ants. With multiple locomotion modes, they can detect and overcome obstacles, move objects, and even adapt to unknown environments.
A team of ecologists and aerospace engineers collaborated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to minimize the impact of biologging devices on animals. They discovered that improving tag shape can reduce drag, allowing tags to be made slightly larger while maintaining performance.
A study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution found that differences in vertebrae numbers are most extreme in mammals that don't rely on running and leaping. The research suggests that a particular type of locomotor behavior, such as suspensory locomotion, is associated with increases in variation in vertebrae count across mammals.
A new study found that running caused forced vibrations in the wings of a primitive dinosaur, potentially leading to passive wing flapping. This motion could have developed earlier than gliding flight and may have contributed to the evolution of flying in birds.
Belgica antarctica flies secrete a clear jelly around their eggs, acting as temperature and humidity buffer. The gel helps the eggs survive Antarctica's temperature fluctuations and dryness, allowing them to thrive in the continent's extreme environment.
A team of researchers found that hot great white sharks can swim at high speeds when commuting between islands, but prefer slower speeds when hunting for fat seal snacks. The study suggests that the warm-blooded lifestyle of these sharks allows them to conserve energy by using a 'sit-and-wait' strategy.
Researchers have discovered how gulls configure their wing shape to stabilize flight by adjusting elbow joints. This technique could inform the design of future aircraft, including fixed-wing drones that can coast on thermal updrafts.
A new review article explores how fire histories affect animal movement patterns and the distribution of species. It highlights the consequences of altered fire regimes and habitat fragmentation on animal populations, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary research to better understand these complex interactions.
A comprehensive study of the blind cavefish's vertebrate-like pelvic girdle and phylogeny may provide insights into the evolution of appendages, pelvis, and vertebral column needed for terrestrial life. Researchers will examine the morphological, genomic, and mechanical qualities that enable fish to walk on land.
Researchers discovered geckos' unique locomotion method, combining leg slapping, skin surface tension, and tail propulsion. The findings could inspire rapid swimming robots for search and rescue operations.
A new study by Etienne Danchin and colleagues found that female fruit flies learn mating preferences from others and copy them when choosing a mate. This social learning can produce and maintain local traditions for potentially thousands of generations, with significant evolutionary implications.
A geologist has discovered a set of ancient reptile footprints, 28 in number, left behind by a creature 310 million years ago. The discovery is significant as it is the oldest trackway found in Grand Canyon National Park.
A research team from the University of Queensland has developed a new approach to help Australian freshwater fish species overcome obstacles like culverts. By creating a channel of slower flowing water, small and young fish can now navigate fast flows, increasing their chances of survival.
Researchers measured polar and grizzly bears' oxygen consumption while walking on a treadmill, finding they consume the same amount of energy as similarly sized animals. This challenges previous ideas that polar bears burn more energy due to their environment.
Researchers compiled a massive dataset of movement data for diverse marine megafauna, including whales, turtles, sharks, and birds. The study found that species-specific movement patterns are influenced by habitat, with open-ocean animals moving in straighter lines and coastal animals exhibiting more erratic behavior.
Computer-generated chimpanzee simulations become more accurate thanks to simple changes in machine learning algorithms. The research also reveals that all primates walk with a unique 'curious' gait, which may be linked to stability while moving through trees.
A global study using GPS data from over 800 animals found that terrestrial mammalian movements in areas with a high human footprint are significantly reduced. This fragmentation of habitats due to human infrastructure can have severe consequences for ecosystems, including changes in seed dispersal, food chains, and population sizes.
Cornell University engineers have developed event-based algorithms mimicking neural activity for tiny robots, enabling greater autonomy and adaptability. The technology aims to improve micro-robots' ability to navigate complex environments without increasing their weight or power consumption.
Researchers studied fast cockroach locomotion to develop more energy-efficient robot movement. At high speeds, cockroaches adapt their gait by reducing leg coordination, allowing for stable movement on slippery surfaces. This discovery could help robots achieve better endurance and cross-country mobility.
Scientists have developed a theory explaining how animals adjust their movement patterns in response to environmental cues such as food, predators and mating partners. The research reveals the complex interplay between an animal's force, drag, and behavioral response to environmental signals.
Research reveals minnows prefer energetic shoalmates due to increased visual stimulation and potential hydrodynamic benefits. Higher metabolic rates in shoal mates may reduce predation risks for following fish.
Research found that insecticide-resistant male fruit flies are smaller, less aggressive, and struggle with courting females. They also exhibit increased latency in copulation and reduced competitive mating success.
Researcher Keith Moored aims to understand the forces, energetics and flow physics of collective locomotion in schools of fish to develop optimized underwater vehicles. He will use a low-speed wind tunnel facility and particle image velocimetry system to characterize flow fields and forces acting on pitching wing models.
Researchers found a faster way for six-legged robots to move on flat ground without adhesive pads, dubbed the 'bipod' gait. This locomotor strategy is more efficient than traditional tripod gait used by insects.
Researchers studying zebrafish found that early improvements in balance emerge from growing ability to execute quick swims in response to instability. Zebrafish learn to correct movements and become more stable over time.
The brain can distinguish between expected and unexpected visual motion by selectively silencing neurons sensitive to yaw during intentional turns. This allows flies to stabilize their flight path and shift their gaze without interference. The study provides insights into how the brain processes visual information to control behavior
This review article discusses the neural control mechanisms behind fly larval locomotion, a complex motor behavior shared by both vertebrate and invertebrate species. Key findings from Drosophila models reveal the crucial role of genes in regulating locomotor rhythm and pattern generation.
Researchers discover that walking heel-to-toe creates a mechanical advantage by extending the length of 'virtual legs,' making them longer than physical legs. This adaptation allows humans to be efficient walkers.
Researchers modelled the locomotion of early tetrapods using a living mudskipper and robot simulator. They found that tail use greatly improved terrestrial locomotor performance on soft substrates, especially on slopes and sandy surfaces.
A new type of gel has been developed that periodically swells and shrinks to model the waves of muscular contraction and relaxation involved in crawling. The gel responds to light, producing two types of crawling motion, similar to those used by land snails, earthworms, and limpets.
Researchers in China developed a 'shadow method' to measure forces acting on water strider legs, revealing key principles behind their locomotion. The technique could help design advanced biomimetic robots and measure forces at the single molecular level.
The study reveals that taming instability is a key factor in the centipede's success, allowing it to move quickly and over obstacles with ease. By harnessing instability, the creature produces an undulating movement that enhances its locomotion maneuverability.
Researchers used a custom-built robot, mathematical models and studies of amphibious fish to explore the critical evolutionary leap from water to land. They found that stabilizing the body with a tail provided substantial benefits for the first critical step out of an aqueous environment.
Researchers studied African mudskipper fish and a robot modeled on the animal to understand how early terrestrial animals moved 360 million years ago. The study suggests that tails may have played a key role in propelling these early land animals forward, especially on sloping granular surfaces.
A paralyzed chimpanzee, Reo, was rehabilitated through a dedicated programme using cognitive tasks on a touch screen. After 41 months of intensive physiotherapy, he learned to walk again, showing the potential of this method in improving animal welfare.
A study found that mice with a genetic mutation exhibiting periodic changes in locomotor activity and mood-like behaviors, similar to humans with bipolar disorder. Gene expression patterns in the brain identified circadian genes as key players in regulating infradian oscillations.
Researchers from NJIT identified a species of blind cavefish in Thailand with tetrapod-like pelvic girdle, enabling it to walk and climb waterfalls. This discovery provides insight into the evolution of walking on land and convergent morphological features.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new role for motor neurons in influencing rhythmic movements. Motor neurons directly control the recruitment of upstream excitatory interneurons via gap junctions, indicating they are not passive recipients of signals from interneuronal circuits.
A team of scientists identified a population of 'stop cells' in the brainstem that enable mice to halt their locomotion. These cells depress neuronal networks involved in generating locomotor rhythm, allowing animals to make graceful stops. The findings may provide insights into how locomotion is affected in diseases like Parkinson's.
Researchers found that these animals move forward by sucking water towards them using low pressure, rather than pushing against it. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of evolutionary adaptation, functional ecology, and bio-inspired design.
Researchers developed a test-bed to study animal movement on soft ground, revealing key principles for robotic design. The findings, published in Bioinspiration & Biomechanics, suggest that robots can mimic the locomotion strategies of animals, such as sandrunners and forest dwellers, to improve their performance on challenging terrain.
A three-year NSF-funded grant will support research on how brain cells regulate locomotion in zebrafish. The project aims to understand the role of neurotransmitters, particularly GABA, and identify specific receptor types that control movement.